Governor
Acts as Drought Intensifies in Southwest
As has been the case in
recent months, rainfall varied dramatically across Kansas in
June. While southeast Kansas averaged nearly 11 inches of
rain during the month, it was a much different story in the
west. Less than an inch fell in some counties, including
only 0.61 inches at Elkhart in Morton County. Governor
Kathleen Sebelius declared a Drought Watch or Drought
Warning in 13 counties (see below). Average temperatures
across Kansas during June were near normal in most areas
except in the southwest where warmer than normal conditions
prevailed.
The latest
Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report -
June 2008 provides additional details. This Report
is updated
monthly (first Friday or thereabouts) throughout the year. Archived
reports from
2006 and 2007 are also available: 5/2008,
4/2008, 3/2008, 2/8/2008,
1/8/2008,
12/7/2008,
11/7/2007,
10/7/2007,
9/5/2007, 8/7/2007,
7/6/2007,
6/6/2007 , 5/5/2007,
4/4/2007,
3/6/2007,
2/2/2007,
11/14/06, 10/10/06, 8/16/2006,
6/14/2006, 5/1/2006, 3/10/06, 1/25/06.
Drought Preparedness and Response
The Kansas
Water Office has the statutory responsibility to monitor
conditions and inform the Governor when drought conditions are
present in the state. The Director of the Kansas Water Office
serves as Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team, an
interagency group charged with coordinating drought response
activities in Kansas. An
Operations Plan details Team membership and response
activities keyed to each of three county drought stages: Drought
Watch, Drought Warning and Drought Emergency.
The following publications provide
additional information regarding drought preparedness and
response in Kansas.
Drought
Related Links - Additional information regarding current drought
conditions, forecasts, available assistance, drought planning,
and more is available through these links.
