Drought — Cherokee, Kansas

2024-10-01 to 2024-10-31 · Cherokee, Kansas

Event narrative

Little or no rain fall through the first 29 days of the month which allowed Extreme (D3) Drought to develop across the County. Impacts across the region occurred over larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw impacts with ground water levels falling. Crop and vegetation growth was showed signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2024 will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

Wider weather episode

Extreme (D3) Drought conditions developed across portions southeastern Kansas through the end of October. Sparse rainfall amounts occurred during the month allowing for the development of drought conditions over portions of southeastern Kansas before a line of storms finally brough more than a few hundredths of an inch to the area just before the end of the month. Many locations saw no rainfall from the last week of September until a line of storms moved through the area on October 30th. Across southeastern Kansas Severe (D3) drought developed by the middle of the month with an expansion of Severe (D2), Moderate (D1) Drought and abnormally Dry (D0) conditions. The primary impacts of the drought occurred in the agricultural communities. Hay growth was impacted along with reports of crop and vegetation impacts due to limited soil and surface moisture, stock ponds showed impacts and low flows on several streams and rivers were reported. Final reports of damages will be placed in the last month the drought occurred in the counties impacted in 2024.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1215772. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.