Drought conditions improved dramatically across the region during the month of August 2018. A few bouts of heavy rainfall occurred during the month, which led to vast improvements in drought conditions across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
Drought conditions improved dramatically across the region during the month of August 2018. A few bouts of heavy rainfall occurred during the month, which led to vast improvements in drought conditions across the region.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 10:48 PM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 1148 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday night) Issued at 242 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 Cyclonic curvature on the western side of the shortwave slowly spinning over srn MO may lead to a stray shower/storm late this afternoon or early evening over extreme SE KS, where lingering higher precipitable water values will located. Think storms will be diurnally driven and wane or end around sunset, as the shortwave gradually shifts east of the area. High pressure ridge axis will make its way across the forecast area tonight with clear skies and light winds. This will lead to favorable radiational cooling conditions tonight, with min temps falling into into the middle 50s in central KS to around 60 in srn KS. The quiet weather pattern will continue for the next several days, as the upper ridge over the wrn US slowly shifts back southeast across the region. As the ridge shifts east, southerly return flow and good downslope conditions will return to the region with max temps climbing back to more seasonal numbers in the lower 90s for Wed/Fri. Ketcham .LONG TERM...(Saturday through Tuesday) Issued at 242 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 Southerly breezy flow returns to the region for the weekend, as a quick hitting shortwave moves out of the Rockies and into the plains for Sat. Could be looking at increasing thunderstorm chances over the weekend, as this shortwave breaks down the upper ridge. Thinking the best storm chances, albeit slight, will be Saturday evening and night across central KS. Not expecting a huge precip maker as moisture return will be limited. Zonal flow will keep southerly flow and breezy conditions across the region for the end of the weekend into the beginning of the week. Medium range models differ on how the beginning of the week will play out. GFS is a little bit strong with another weak shortwave to move along the zonal flow for Mon afternoon/night, pushing a weak cold front into northern KS. ECMWF is weaker with the shortwave and keeps the front further to the north. For now will go with a low pop for central KS but confidence in this is very low. Ketcham && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night) Issued at 1147 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 VFR conditions are forecast at all sites throughout the period as surface ridge moves across the area. Still anticipate some diurnal cumulus tomorrow, but coverage should be a bit less than today. -Howerton && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 62 89 65 92 / 0 0 0 0 Hutchinson 59 90 64 92 / 0 0 0 0 Newton 62 88 64 91 / 0 0 0 0 ElDorado 60 88 63 91 / 0 0 0 0 Winfield-KWLD 61 89 64 91 / 0 0 0 0 Russell 59 90 63 92 / 0 0 0 0 Great Bend 59 89 63 92 / 0 0 0 0 Salina 61 91 64 94 / 0 0 0 0 McPherson 61 90 63 92 / 0 0 0 0 Coffeyville 62 89 64 92 / 0 0 0 0 Chanute 61 88 64 91 / 10 0 0 0 Iola 61 88 63 90 / 10 0 0 0 Parsons-KPPF 60 88 64 92 / 10 0 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && SHORT TERM...Ketcham LONG TERM...Ketcham AVIATION...PJH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 427 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-012130- Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase- Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper- Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette- 427 PM CDT Tue Jul 31 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Recent heavy rains have caused rises on the the Ninnescah River near Murdock, and also the Slate Creek near Wellington. Precautions should be taken to protect property near the banks at these locations. A few hit-or-miss showers or thunderstorms are possible across far eastern Kansas early evening. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday There is a chance of thunderstorms across central Kansas Saturday evening and Saturday night. A few strong storms will be possible but widespread severe weather appears unlikely at this time. A gradual warming trend will support afternoon heat indices around 100 degrees across the region by Sunday or Monday. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: http://weather.gov/wichita/hwo/ Ketcham
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month to moderate drought.
Severe to extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the entire county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably to severe by the end of the month.
Extreme drought conditions persisted over the northern half of the county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably to severe by the end of the month.
Severe drought conditions persisted over the western half of the county for the early portions of August 2018. But welcome rainfall during the middle and end of the month improved drought conditions considerably by the end of the month.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, August 2018
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 779904, 779905, 779906, 779907, 779908, 779909, 779910, 779912, 779913, 779914, 779915, 779916.