Drought — Mitchell, Kansas

2024-11-01 to 2024-11-18 · Mitchell, Kansas

Wider weather episode

Although it did not fully eradicate the ongoing drought situation within North Central Kansas, November 2024 precipitation was just what the doctor ordered across this six-county area...especially in the wake of what had just been a Top-10 driest September-October on record in some spots. November still officially marked the fifth-consecutive month with Severe Drought (D2) plaguing parts of the area (per the U.S Drought Monitor/USDM), but widespread, well-above normal rainfall actually prompted the removal of all D2 from North Central Kansas at mid-month...marking the first time since late-July that the entire area was void of D2. In fact, several long-time NWS stations notched a Top-5 wettest November on record (see below for more precipitation details). Taking a closer examination of county-level USDM drought categories across North Central Kansas, November opened with the following situation: 1) D2 included roughly 18% of the area...mostly within Jewell County and small parts of Smith/Mitchell counties...2) Moderate Drought (D1) encompassed the vast majority of the remaining approximately 82% of the area (save for a sliver of Abnormally Dry/D0 in far southern Mitchell County). However, several rounds of rain (including two primary events that each dropped widespread totals of at least 0.50-1.50) unfolded during the first three weeks of the month, stemming the tide of drought degradation and helping replenish soil moisture heading into the upcoming winter months. Ultimately, roughly 22% of the six-county domain saw one-category improvement during the month (highlighted by the removal of D2). As a result, the official drought breakdown for North Central Kansas at month's end stood as follows: 1) D1 blanketed the vast majority of the area (roughly 97% of it)...2) The remaining roughly 3% of the domain featured D0 (including primarily small sections of northern Phillips/Smith counties).

Turning to November 2024 rainfall details (there was no measurable snow), it was simply good news all-around. Not only did nearly the entirety of North Central Kansas register at least twice-normal precipitation (normal being around 1.18 inches), but roughly 42% of the six-county area boasted at least THREE TIMES NORMAL! Based on measurements from around 30 NWS and NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, some of the very-highest November totals were highlighted by: 4.92 in Plainville, 4.52 at Glen Elder Lake, 3.98 in Cawker City and 3.97 in Alton. Several long-time NWS stations recorded a Top-5 wettest November on record including: four miles west-northwest of Plainville (4.56...WETTEST of 114 years), Cawker City (3.98...3rd-wettest of 105 years) and Alton (3.97...4th-wettest of 114 years). Even the overall-driest local stations still finished the month considerably above-normal, including: 2.93 in Smith Center, 3.03 near Scottsville, and 3.13 in Lebanon.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220012. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.