Drought in Barton, Kansas

The entire county entered the month in severe drought (D2) status. There was a degradation to the extreme drought (D3) category starting on the 5th in southern portions of the county which continued through the rest of the month. Rounds of thunderstorms in the middle of the month specifically the 17th into 18th improved northern portions of the county to moderate drought (D1) status; a cooperative observer near Galatia measured 3.97 inches on the 18th.

Areas of drought impacting portions of central and south central Kansas persisted through much of the month. A degradation in the conditions occurred in Barton, McPherson and Rice counties with a classification of the extreme category (D3) beginning on May 5th. Northern Reno County was included in the degradation to D3 with a brief improvement following some rain for about a week before returning back to it by the end of the month.