Drought in Kansas, June 1 to 23, 2026

Name: Drought in Kansas, June 1 to 23, 2026
Start: 2026-06-01T00:00
End: 2026-06-23T23:59
Location: Kansas

June 1 to 23, 2026 · NWS ICT · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Rounds of showers and thunderstorms improved drought conditions across central Kansas early in the month. A couple areas went from severe drought (D2) to none.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.

Rounds of showers and thunderstorms improved drought conditions across central Kansas early in the month. A couple areas went from severe drought (D2) to none. By the end of the of the month, remaining counties or portions of counties improved to moderate drought and abnormally dry categories. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 4.5 inches to around 15 inches in the drought stricken areas with the highest amounts across south central Kansas. These values were 7 to nearly 9 inches above seasonal normal.

What forecasters said that day

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 May 31, 11:27 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Isolated severe storms possible this afternoon and evening, mainly along/east of I-135
Additional thunderstorms are possible each day next week
Seasonal temperatures over the next week with highs in the 80s to near 90

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 11:27 PM CST, 33 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1227 AM CDT Mon Jun 1 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated severe storms possible this afternoon and evening,
  mainly along/east of I-135

- Additional thunderstorms are possible each day next week

- Seasonal temperatures over the next week with highs in the
  80s to near 90

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 233 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

Currently, an elongated, weak mid/upper level trough extends across
the Northern Rockies into the Northern High Plains with ridging
building in across the southern tier of the CONUS. At the surface, a
weak trough is situated across western Kansas. Visible satellite
indicates numerous lingering outflow boundaries draped across the
central and eastern portions of the state from overnight convection.
The moist airmass remains in place, primarily across eastern Kansas
where PWATs between 1-1.5" have been observed this morning. As we
progress into this afternoon, a sharpening dryline is expected
across south-central Kansas into north-central Oklahoma that could
initiate afternoon and evening convection once again. Confidence
remains low as the ridge to the south begins to build in over the
region, leading to increasing heights and weakening overall ascent
over the region. Decent instability and sufficient shear would
support isolated storms should they manage to develop. Current
guidance indicates development along and east of I-135 with activity
pushing east through the night.

For Monday, a Slight Risk for severe storms returns for central
Kansas. A low pressure will develop over the Central High Plains
leading to easterly/southeasterly flow. This will support increased
moisture and upslope flow across eastern CO/western Kansas. Storm
development is anticipated during the afternoon hours across the
High Plains. Storms will eventually congeal into a multicellular MCS
that will march east-southeastward towards central Kansas during the
late evening and overnight hours. Large hail and strong winds will
be the main threats across central Kansas for late Monday
night/early Tuesday morning.

Then through the end of the week, a mid/upper level ridge will
continue to build in over the region with the forecast area
remaining just north of the ridge axis. This will lead seasonably
warm temperatures (middle 80s to lower 90s), and an overall less
supportive environment for more potent convection due to synoptic
scale subsidence. However, due to the positioning of the upper-level
flow, and given the buoyant lower-level airmass, some diurnally
driven showers and storms look to develop each afternoon/evening.
The potential for widespread severe weather remains low at this
time. Confidence remains low on exact location and intensity of any
convection for Tuesday through Saturday.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 1223 AM CDT Mon Jun 1 2026

Scattered thunderstorms continue across east-central KS and near
CNU. -TSRA will likely remain in the CNU area through 09Z or so.
Patchy fog is expected to develop across north-central KS with
VSBY around 2SM or lower expected. VSBY should improve by mid-
morning. Otherwise, easterly winds will become established with
additional thunderstorm chances near the end of the period.
Confidence in timing and coverage are too low for introduction
at this time.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...AMD
AVIATION...BRF

Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 6:50 PM CST, 5 hours 10 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Wichita KS
750 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-020100-
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-
750 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of central Kansas,
east central Kansas, south central Kansas and southeast Kansas.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Severe thunderstorms are are possible through the evening hours, primarily
along and east of Interstate 135. The strongest thunderstorms may
produce hail up to tennis ball size, wind gusts up to 70 mph, a
tornado or two, and heavy rainfall.

Patchy fog is expected to develop across portions of central and
south central Kansas late tonight. Visibility less than 1 mile is
possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Patchy fog will continue across portions of central Kansas through
8 AM on Monday morning. Visibility less than 1 mile is possible.

Additional thunderstorms are possible Sunday through Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and tonight.

&&

For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=ict

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 31, 7:46 PM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
846 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0838 PM     Hail             10 S Saffordville       38.24N 96.40W
05/31/2026  E1.25 Inch       Chase              KS   Public

            Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

&&

Local storm report, May 31, 8:46 PM CST, 3 hours 14 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
946 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0943 PM     Tornado          2 NW Madison            38.15N 96.16W
05/31/2026                   Greenwood          KS   Public

            Report received via image from social media.

&&

Local storm report, May 31, 9:40 PM CST, 2 hours 20 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1040 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1031 PM     Hail             5 W Gridley             38.11N 95.96W
05/31/2026  E1.75 Inch       Greenwood          KS   Public

            Report from mPING.

&&

Local storm report, May 31, 11:28 PM CST, 32 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Wichita KS
1228 AM CDT Mon Jun 1 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1227 AM     Hail             Neosho Falls            38.01N 95.56W
06/01/2026  M1.00 Inch       Woodson            KS   Trained Spotter

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Barton

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 23, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Barton forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.479, -98.756 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southern third of the county entered the month in extreme drought (D3) with much improvement by June 16th to the moderate drought (D1) except the far southern corners which eventually improved for a removal of severe drought (D2) by the 23rd. In this time period, southern portions of the county measured around 5 inches according to CoCoRaHS observers.

Drought, Russell

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 2, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Russell forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.915, -98.762 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the start of the month, severe drought (D2) could be found from the southwest corner to nearly the northeast corner of the county. This was erased with around three inches that fell according to CoCoRaHS observations in between the weekly classification. Additional rain by the 9th, dropped the category to the abnormally dry which further improved to none by the 23rd.

Drought, Sumner

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 2, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Sumner forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.237, -97.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southwest quadrant of the county entered the month in severe drought (D2) which improved by the 2nd with over three inches that fell in the week between outlooks from multiple rounds of showers and storms.

Drought, Harper

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 2, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harper forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.192, -98.075 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Much of the county entered the month in severe drought (D2) which improved by the 2nd with over three inches that fell in the week between outlooks from multiple rounds of showers and storms. The entire county was in moderate drought (D1) with further improvements to none for all but the southwest corner of the county by the end of the month.

Drought, Kingman

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 2, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Kingman forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.559, -98.136 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southwest corner of the county started the month in severe drought (D2) which quickly in improved in the week between monitor issuances given rounds of showers and storms. It entered moderate drought (D1) and further improved to abnormally dry by the 23rd then none at the end of the month.

Drought, Ellsworth

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 2, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Ellsworth forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.697, -98.205 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southern quarter of the county entered the month in severe drought (D2) which improved in the week between issuances by the 2nd when it became moderate drought (D1) after rounds of showers and storms.

Drought, Rice

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 23, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.347, -98.201 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

At the start of the month, most of the county was in extreme drought (D3). There were gradual improvements in the first week between issuances where it dropped to severe drought (D2) on the 2nd. Gradually this improved further with a complete removal of D2 on the 23rd.

Drought, McPherson

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 16, 11:59 PM CST
Where: McPherson forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 38.392, -97.648 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The southwest corner of the county entered the month in extreme drought (D3) with areas of moderate drought (D2) stretching to the northwest and southeast corners. Multiple rounds of showers and storms led to the removal of D2 on the 16th.

Drought, Reno

When: June 1, 12:00 AM CST to June 23, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Reno forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor
Coordinates: 37.953, -98.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In the northwest corner to start the month, there was an area of extreme drought (D3) with severe drought (D2) from west central to the northeast corner of the county. Multiple rounds of showers and storms improved the northwest corner to D2 on the 2nd then further to moderate drought (D1) on the 23rd.

What these are

Drought: A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Kansas in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Kansas, June 2026

Sources

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: 1357078, 1357080, 1357371, 1357372, 1357373, 1357374, 1357375, 1357376, 1357377.