Breaking a Drought…
Contributors to this thread:Kansas
From: ksq232
03-May-23
Maybe a good one coming tomorrow? Not a drought breaker — that thread title is for Calhoun — but perhaps a pretty good one for SEK none-the-less.
From: Catscratch
04-May-23
Ya just Jinxed it!
From: Kansan
04-May-23
It will take several inches, from multiple rounds of rain, to break this drought. That said, I’m grateful for every drop.
From: be still
04-May-23
Woohoo I’m ready for y’all to get some…I can already smell it.
From: ksq232
04-May-23
Hope you’re not right Cat! Nothing much as of yet, but it’s not supposed to get organized until late this afternoon.
From: Catscratch
04-May-23
Everything has missed us so far, normal pattern of building south then sliding east of us.
I just checked the hourly and we are no longer favored to get much tonight. Oh well, maybe next time!
From: ksq232
04-May-23
NEOK is getting our rain once again, I’m sure MO will get it too. It will not come north until it’s safely across the east border. Our overnight forecasted totals are dropping by the minute. It will be a miracle if we get an inch at this point. This sucks. So much for positivity….
From: ksq232
04-May-23
Just watched a 24 minute detailed forecast of May precipitation accumulations from Nutrían Ag. It doesn’t look good. South and SE of us looks great, once again good for you in OK, and those of you in Arkansas and Texas. The upper Midwest is looking better, and we’re again stuck in the middle with jack squat. He even talked about the fact that today’s system stayed south of us with no explanation as to why. El Niño they’ve been talking about is being overcome by a big section of cold water off the west coast. For the most part the entire 25 minutes was a tribute to “it sucks to be us in Southern Kansas”. If we can’t get rain in May, we’re doomed. The in-laws sold a quarter of their momma cows this week. That will be followed by more soon. They sold all their “culls” last fall because of the hay shortage.
From: One Arrow
05-May-23
Not sure how, but we ended up with a little over 2” last night… and it came down perfectly. It lasted for about 8-9 hours.
The largest part of the storm missed us again, I thought we were screwed, but it back built for most of the evening and through part of the night.
Likely saved the wheat and is going to give the pastures some much needed relief. It would be even better if we got another just like it in the next 5-10 days
It was our first rain over an 1” in close to a year.
From: ksq232
05-May-23
Glad for you! How in the world did you get that rain One Arrow? I watched it just set within 40 miles to the east of us and just open up. I hope it doesn’t open the pattern when you guys got rain after rain after rain in 2021 while we baked. I’m hoping the .5” we got yesterday saved the wheat, but I doubt it did, a half inch doesn’t do much when you’re 40-50” behind. I don’t think I can even imagine a 2” rain anymore.
From: Catscratch
05-May-23
My buddy out west that let's me chase pronghorns sent me a pic of his wheat.
From: Ksgobbler
05-May-23
https://www.kwch.com/2023/05/05/rain-totals-reaching-historic-lows-through-spring-months/
From: One Arrow
05-May-23
I’m not sure how it happened, from the looks of the radar it looked like it would do what it’s been doing the whole time, which is get about 20 miles east or south of us and break open. It did it this time as well, but it just keep back building over the top of us. I’m guessing it hit everything from a little West of Parsons and then East. I’ve heard some people over by the Neosho got around 3”.
I think those 1/2” rains will keep the wheat going honestly. It’ll need a good soaker to finish it though. It’s a tough crop and it’s better that you are dry early on corn than later.
Sure hope you get some relief soon and as much as this helped, we need it again in another 5 days…. And then again after that. Sure didn’t help the ponds.
From: ksq232
05-May-23
Wow Cat, that’s tough. Western Kansas might have to become exclusively wheat country again and extreme SW Kansas might have to quit the agriculture if this continues. There is no way Washington is going to allow the irrigation to continue, and it has already been restricted like crazy. Part of me wonders if some of the extreme parts of western Kansas should have ever been broken for agriculture, but that’s another conversation.
From: KB
05-May-23
What is Washington doing about irrigation out there? If they get bad enough agriculture ceases how do you think your country will fare James? Bet it won’t be anywhere near 30 inches annual precip.
From: ksq232
05-May-23
You haven’t been hearing about the new EPA regs being fought out in Washington?
I hope you don’t think I’m in favor of them!
I’m not sure how our county will fare this year, hopefully better than last year!
From: KB
05-May-23
Are you talking about WOTUS/Clean Waters Act? I don’t see anyone talking about that with regards to the Ogallala. The only recent news I can find on the Ogallala is a KS House bill to require managers to to “come up with a plan to conserve water” or state mandates may be necessary. Share a link if you’ve got one.
From: ksq232
06-May-23
I’ll look, I read about it on theblaze a couple weeks ago Kansas wasn’t specifically mentioned on it. They were also talking about it on a local radio station last week during the midday ag report.
From: 30338
06-May-23
I drive from Limon, CO to Hays working on my place. Not sure how ranchers are going to make it this year. The pastures are literally less than an inch tall. The only places that have grass have to be CRP ground that hasn't been grazed. Very tough on all wildlife and cattle at this point. To my uneducated eye, it would seem these fields will take years to recover.
From: Westksbowhunter
06-May-23
Ray how tall is your wheat down there? Ours is about at the ankle if it did manage to come up. It is thin and patchy. CRP fields look dead. I planted about 30 new tree's around my place 2020 and 3 of the pines and 2 maples are now dead. Only ones that made it were the red cedars. I kept soaker houses around all of them but it didn't save those pines and maples.
From: One Arrow
06-May-23
Wheat is not near as tall as it usually is, BUT it does look good overall. Those .3”-.5” rains kept it going. Our pastures are crap and a lot of ponds are beyond extremely low. We’ve started the process of buying large tanks to start hauling water… I know guys that have been hauling for months. We put several waterers in last Fall on rural water, but not all.
From: One Arrow
06-May-23
We also lost a maple in our yard that was around 40 years old… one of our main shade trees. Wish I would have watered it over the winter.
Our hay meadows look like they’ve been taken over by weeds. Most are not above ankle high. Hay is going to be an issue Im afraid. We are going to bale areas we’ve never baled before… if there is anything to bale.
We are doing everything we can to keep from selling cattle, but things are looking grim. Dad said we can handle a water shortage or a hay shortage, but not both… and he’s right.
From: MDW
07-May-23
That last big rain thursday evening, I dumped TWO DROPS out of my guage !
From: Thornton
07-May-23
Be a good year to drill a water well.
From: ksq232
07-May-23
The monthly forecast is looking more bleak now than a week ago. We’ve GOT to get rain in May!
From: KsRancher
08-May-23
Looks like a good chance for you guys on Tuesday. I drove out thru Winfield, Caney and Coffeyville yesterday. I was really surprised how green the grass was. And even had some decent growth on it. I was thinking it was going to look brown and nothing out there.
From: Catscratch
08-May-23
KsRancher, I'm not far from Winfield. I've been amazed that the grass is green and growing. Most ponds are completely dry. I need to drive around and take pics just so that I can be a grumpy old man and show grandkids someday. My take on the green grass is that native grasses have amazingly deep root systems to protect from just this sort of thing.
From: One Arrow
08-May-23
I think the low temps along with the little showers are keeping the grass growing. Our wheat doesn’t look bad surprisingly… if we had 90 degree temps through this, I’m sure it would look a lot different,
From: ksq232
08-May-23
The little rains we’ve gotten the last two weeks have done a pretty good job of making the grass green, but it has done little for pasture growth. On the plus side, the wheat though very short, seems to have headed out pretty well, and I’m sure the small rains have helped it some.
Edit to say the neighbors cows are in our front yard right now, it’s not easy keeping cows in a fence these days with so little grass. Might need to help get them in before heading to work.
From: ksq232
08-May-23
This cold water has been our nemesis for way too long, it NEEDS to warm up to change everything for us.
From: Ksgobbler
08-May-23
A rancher friend is worried because his brome isnt growing. My native grass doesn't look bad. Planted a couple trees in the front yard yesterday. The dirt was dry and powdery as far down as I dug. These are oaks I grew from acorns in my basement over the winter.
From: Catscratch
09-May-23
Good luck with those trees Ksgobbler! I have a bunch of trees that I started this winter but I won't plant until this fall.
From: ksq232
09-May-23
Some big storms firing up north, none coming our way. Also storms firing up east in MO, obviously not heading our way. NEK will get some good rain AGAIN looks like. Texas likely to get flooding the end of this week Calhoun.
From: ksq232
09-May-23
Watching a stream of some storm chasers sw of Salina right now. Pretty interesting stuff, they better be glad I’m not 135 headed towards Salina. I’m the master of repelling storms. Lol
From: Ksgobbler
09-May-23
We are getting torrential rain right now.
From: ksq232
09-May-23
Glad you’re getting it gobbler! I don’t think it will make it down to us, I’ve just seen too many systems fall apart the last year and a half coming from the NW. But here’s to hoping!
From: Westksbowhunter
09-May-23
Big rain here unfortunately big hail, 2.5 inch hail.
From: One Arrow
09-May-23
I’m not exactly sure where you are, but looks like a soaker is close to you James… getting any of it?
From: One Arrow
09-May-23
DP
From: ksq232
09-May-23
We are just outside Caney. It has a ways to come yet.
From: Westksbowhunter
09-May-23
Well I was in Great Bend when the storm hit. Over 2 inches of rain and lots of hail. Got home 30 miles west in Rush County and less than .30. Nothing again.
From: ksq232
09-May-23
The team of storm chasers I was watching were near Great Bend. Larned had some action too.
First real rain coming down in a while. It might not last long, so the whole family is out on the patio watching. Lol
From: Westksbowhunter
09-May-23
Tennis ball size hail. We are getting a little rain as I type. Had a wall cloud 4 miles south of my house but no rotation.
From: Ksgobbler
09-May-23
Our rain gauge is cracked, but I did dump out .6".
From: KsRancher
09-May-23
Got 1.1in at my place. Came in 30min. Hailed a little bit also.
From: ksq232
09-May-23
Just heard from the neighbor to the farm. .25”. I can’t hardly believe it, we got over an inch here 13 miles away. So much for the good rain i thought we got. They got the same at the in-laws….crap!
From: be still
09-May-23
Yep James Erica told me that we had good chances of rain this week. We’ve had our share so far this year it seems though. I checked into that El Niño or whatever it’s called you mentioned the other day. Down here we might have a chance of having a wet year…just hoping that line extends up to y’all.
From: Bwhnt
10-May-23
Tennis ball size hail! I'm no weather man but that sounds like it would do some damage.
From: Ksgobbler
10-May-23
Bwhnt, tons of damage. We had wind driven hail up to softball sized back in 2016. One of my earliest memories as a child is hail breaking out our kitchen window as we headed to the basement. I also remember putting a golfball out of a floor drain and eating cheese puffs out of a bag with an owl on it waiting on the storm to pass. I had to be less than 2 years old as we moved from that house when I was a little over 2 years old.
From: Catscratch
10-May-23
Sorry you had so much damage. Cleanup and recovery is always a pain. Hope it goes well.
From: Westksbowhunter
10-May-23
When you live out here, hail is just a part of life. Growing up in Cherokee county I can only remember getting hail one time. I was in my 30s when I moved out here and found out what hail was all about. Not uncommon for softball size hail to hit somewhere.
From: MDW
10-May-23
Maybe 3/4" just west of Fredonia, KS.
From: Bwhnt
10-May-23
That left a big impression on you apparently. We had some hail here 2 weeks ago, but tiny and very isolated depending on elevation.
From: keepemsharp
10-May-23
PT co. 2 inches in 30 minutes and small hail.
From: ksq232
10-May-23
All kinds of rain SE of us, PLEASE rotate this way!!! Definitely warm and muggy enough. Right now most of Kansas is stuck between to large systems, what else is new?
From: ksq232
10-May-23
A tornado in the ground NE of Denver right now. Watching chaser live streams is addictive.
From: Ksgobbler
11-May-23
Man West you lucked out with no hail down there. My folks live in Lyon County and get a new roof every few years due to hail damage. In the last 3 years I think they have had 2 roofs.
From: ksq232
11-May-23
Royals in a rain delay AGAIN…. Wish the city slickers up north would send it south.
From: Ksgobbler
11-May-23
My wife and kids are at the game.
From: keepemsharp
11-May-23
Royals pulled it out in the 9th.
From: cherney12
11-May-23
James you are making me a little uneasy with your obsession with the lack of rain...r u ok
From: ksq232
12-May-23
Direct tornado hit in NE for the dominator 3. I watched it live, and it was nuts! Watching these crazy people is addictive.
Obviously, I’m frustrated with the current situation cherney (You do realize it is historic, right?), as it is having a negative impact on family and friends. I will say that this thread, as well as one on a habitat forum, is a great place for me to vent my frustration with people who understand completely.
From: sitO
12-May-23
Somethin's brewing down there
From: ksq232
12-May-23
Yeah looks like even a possible tornado or two. But it’s drying up as it heads north so far. I can’t understand why, feels like a sauna outside.
From: Ksgobbler
12-May-23
SE Greenwood county got alot of precipitation
From: NCK
13-May-23
NCK's Link
From: ksq232
13-May-23
Missed us completely again last night, not a drop.
From: Ksgobbler
13-May-23
We didnt get any either. It tried several times but they just fizzled. Upper air soundings suggested tornadoes but the storms just couldnt stay going. Will be some improvements to the map with the rains they got in NW KS.
From: ksq232
13-May-23
It’s not that rains haven’t come the last few weeks, it’s just the nasty tendency they’ve had for a year now of not being widespread. Somebody will get a couple inches and someone 5 miles away will get nothing or very little. Just have to keep praying for one of those late spring systems that is wide spread and very wet. Chautauqua and western Montgomery counties are suffering desperately and have been completely missed with the last 3 weeks of rain.
From: Westksbowhunter
13-May-23
Well I bought a cottonwood to plant today and ordered another dozen eastern red cedars. Hopefully we get enough to get them going. A lost a nice red maple and several pines dye to the drought. But my wind block of cedars I planted in 2020 are over 5 ft now and bushy. I'm going to have my property surrounded by the trees many on here like to burn and eradicate. The more I plant the more wildlife I get to enjoy.
From: squirrel
13-May-23
Axle deep mud here. Couple more days like the last 4 and we’ll have an actual creek with actual running water. Thunder moving in now out of OK. Corns good wheat is super.
First night under a roof since Halloween. Took longer than expected but I knew I could break the drought. Turns out renting a telehsndler is the key
From: EmbryOklahoma
13-May-23
Got a rain last night, mowed midday after it dried, cleaned the gutters, planted some okra, just rained again. Sure is green down here. ;)
From: ksq232
13-May-23
Looks like a decent couple of cells straight south of us heading our way, about forty miles out right now and holding together so far.
From: Ksgobbler
13-May-23
Looks like some came close to you.
I am thankful for some green up. We need time to repair our brush trucks and save on fuel. The last couple years have been hard on equipment and I am grateful for a break.
From: ksq232
13-May-23
Went right over our house, but unfortunately missed our in-law’s they are only 14 miles NW. Maybe some more will come, I certainly hope so. More of the same, small cells equal feast or famine.
From: Westksbowhunter
14-May-23
We got nothing, again, yesterday and this morning. The last 4 rains averaged about .30.
From: ksq232
14-May-23
I hear ya west. We got less than a quarter last night.
From: sitO
14-May-23
Got a little over an inch out of the cell that just came through ICT
From: EmbryOklahoma
14-May-23
Rained again last night and just rained GOOD about 5 minutes ago. It’s like a swamp down here. :)
From: Ksgobbler
14-May-23
Getting rocked currently. They said hail to golfball size but luckily only nickle size with strong winds and torrential rain.
From: ksq232
14-May-23
Getting jack so far around here. Still way under an inch total for the last 2 weeks. Fun, fun…
From: Matte
15-May-23
Rained all day in western Kansas Sunday. That was a nice feeling. To late for alot of crops but may help the natural foliage. I did see one rooster on my travels but no deer or hens.
From: Westksbowhunter
15-May-23
Not true Matt. We didn't get squat.
From: sitO
15-May-23
Great Bend ain't "western KS" buddy
From: Westksbowhunter
15-May-23
Well I don't live in Great Bend buddy. I live in Rush County and we didn't get rain here. Or in Trego or Ellis. I fished at Cedar Bluff over the weekend. A little mist but no rain.
From: Ksgobbler
15-May-23
Ended with .95" in the last 24 hours. .75" of that came in about a 20 minute time span.
From: Thornton
16-May-23
Been raining a lot here in the Wichita and Eldorado area. Can't hardly keep up with my 50 some yards. Headed to Eureka tomorrow to see if the ponds got any water.
From: ksq232
16-May-23
The in-laws ended up with 1.8” for the two weeks. Missed the really big one yesterday afternoon by about 6 miles that would have helped the ponds, but we’ll take it regardless.
From: Westksbowhunter
16-May-23
Jetmore city lake has died. Had some big bass in it.
From: MDW
16-May-23
Jamie, my computer has been down this past week, but hit the jackpot in Fredonia. I've dumped almost 7 inches of rain from my gauge this past week !
From: ksq232
16-May-23
I saw you guys were getting the good rains up there Marvin. I’m ready for the first system in a year that gets ALL of us in SEK.
From: Thornton
17-May-23
Lush and green over in Greenwood County. No water moving in any crerks though. The pond I dug out had a puddle in it. I've seen one good rain fill it up before, so I'm hopeful.
From: One Arrow
17-May-23
I hate to say it, but we need a 5+” rain to get our ponds back in decent shape. Don’t think it would fill a few, but it would put us in decent shape going into the Summer. 2” rains back to back would work if the soil could stay saturated. This dirt is soaking it up.
I’ve also got a quarry I’d like see have at least 3 or 4 feet of water in it before I start dumping bait fish in there.
I swore my mimosa tree was dead, but after that last rain every branch has live buds on it. Never seen it leaf out so late.
From: Justhunt
18-May-23
From: Justhunt
18-May-23
Justhunt's Link
Here’s the video of the tornado intercept from a couple days ago in Nebraska. Very cool video, lifetime of work leading up to that point.
From: ksq232
18-May-23
Yeah I watched that one live, it’s the one I referenced up above. Pretty awesome in every sense of the word!
From: Ksgobbler
18-May-23
Eh, you need to check out Brandon Iveys intercept in NC KS a few years ago. I want to say it was an F4 wedge. Timmer just has the biggest mouth.
From: keepemsharp
18-May-23
PT co has had about 5 in. in last week at our place.
From: crestedbutte
18-May-23
WEAK….not a single downed power line or telephone pole in that video.
From: be still
18-May-23
I’m not gonna lie Crested…I was looking at that power line as well after it went through. Another one came through my news feed…I really got to stop looking at those…the title read something like “Multiple Vortex’s hit a Van and a Dog in Iowa”.
I wasted some minutes of my life on that one. At the end it reminded me of these little summer dust devils down here. I seen the dog running but I don’t think it even lifted him off his feet and all the while the guy screaming whoa….Tornado Tornado. I really hate getting tricked into watching that kind of crap.
Now saying that would I have drove any kind of vehicle into the front of that one there in Nebraska….noper. I enjoy way too much sitting outside watching darkness turn to light on a frost touched November morning in Kansas to be doing something like that.
From: ksq232
19-May-23
Finally got some widespread rain this morning. No pond fillers, but nice nonetheless.
From: Ksgobbler
19-May-23
Here is Brandon Ivey's intercept in the TIV. Listen to the wind in it. https://youtu.be/v075d9Vfqcg
From: Dale06
19-May-23
Talked to my brother in southern Ness county, 2.2” of rain last 24 hours. He said, not a drop ran off. It was a soaker. That’s a great start.
From: Westksbowhunter
19-May-23
It started raining during the night and it is still raining at 11:42. Nice and slow, a soaker. I'm In Rush County, not 2 inches but a good rain so far.
From: EmbryOklahoma
19-May-23
Rained most of the day here. Still misting a bit now. Creeks were FLOWING! :)
From: Westksbowhunter
19-May-23
Well we got 1.07 total. It was slow coming down. Hope the cool weather continues or it will dry up in a day or two.
From: Ksgobbler
19-May-23
.3" here
From: Matte
20-May-23
Glad we have been getting some rain. Planted some food plots two weeks ago hope they thrive and survive.
From: ksq232
24-May-23
Getting a pretty decent rain here in Montgomery county, hope it makes it over to Chautauqua too.
From: ksq232
24-May-23
I take that back, it was another spotty rain. Some got a lot, some got none. We got a tenth.
From: One Arrow
24-May-23
Zilch here
From: Westksbowhunter
25-May-23
Nothing out west, again. Grass in the yard is still dead.
From: Ksgobbler
25-May-23
One little cell just popped up on us but it is raining hard.
From: Ksgobbler
27-May-23
They were swathing wheat along highway 56 today in Marion and Mcpherson counties.
From: EmbryOklahoma
27-May-23
OMG it hasn’t rained here in two days. Guess I’ll have to water.
From: Westksbowhunter
28-May-23
We have had rain chances in the 50% range for the last 8 days and haven't had a drop. It is shaping up to be worse than last year. In May we had a couple of rains, .30 here .30 there, but nothing in March or April. Going into May we were at 2.82 inches for the year. We are in much worse shape than last year. I am going to say less than 2 inches for May with a couple of days left. However, it has been great for a good pheasant hatch. Should start seeing some chicks anytime, however, there wasn't a good population to carry over. I have 3 different litters of little rabbits in the yard, a pair of quail that are staying in the wind block, and 3 or 4 roosters hanging around the house. Just ordered another shipment of red cedar to plant.
From: keepemsharp
28-May-23
Planting red cedar? We spend our life trying to kill it.
From: Westksbowhunter
28-May-23
I plant a dozen or so every year. Great for wildlife. Terrific for song birds.
From: ksq232
02-Jun-23
Good grief, day after day of rain out west. Hope it’s getting a lot of you. Send some east!!!
From: Westksbowhunter
02-Jun-23
Actually no. Just because it shows it on the radar doesn't mean it's raining. Wednesday it looked like a huge storm but it dropped nothing. It will be a solid red right over the top us but we get nothing. We got .20 yesterday morning. But nothing before that for over 10 days. But it started raining at 11:45 this morning and it is 12:55 now and still raining. First time since last July that water has ran in my gutters. We were at 4.72 inches for the year as of yesterday. However Barton county has received some rain that missed us in Ness and Rush counties.
From: Westksbowhunter
02-Jun-23
1:52 and still coming down. A steady soaker and over and inch so far. Best rain in 11 months. Cedar Bluff is so low right now. It will take a great flood to raise levels.
From: Westksbowhunter
02-Jun-23
1.18 total for today.
From: ksq232
03-Jun-23
If we don’t get some rain today, we’re shot for a while. Western Kansas getting dumped on again, bizarro world.
From: be still
03-Jun-23
Yep
From: Westksbowhunter
03-Jun-23
Westksbowhunter's Link
You call this getting dumped on? Very isolated area with good amounts of rain.
From: ksq232
03-Jun-23
Just poured in parts of SE Kansas, and other parts got nothing. Continues to very hit and miss, with emphasis on the miss.
From: ksq232
03-Jun-23
Not even a drop at my in-law’s. I can’t hardly believe it. How long is this going to continue?
From: EmbryOklahoma
03-Jun-23
Raining good here… Y’all come on down and fill up some pans or buckets. :)
From: Ksgobbler
03-Jun-23
A watched pot never boils.
From: Westksbowhunter
04-Jun-23
We are now at 6.34 inches for the year.
From: ksq232
04-Jun-23
You’re quite a ways ahead of us West. I’d love to have had that much at my in-laws. They’re setting at a little ove 4” for the year.
From: Thornton
04-Jun-23
We've had a lot of showers here in Butler and Greenwood Counties. Still no real water running or filling the creeks though. It's been just enough to keep shallow root flora growing like crazy. Crops look good and lawns are growing great. Had the best month of my mowing business ever last month. Did notice that the elms at the shop are losing leaves and turning brown though. Not sure if it is disease or from the drought this winter.
From: Ksgobbler
04-Jun-23
Looks like a pattern shift coming middle to end of next week. Severe weather chances should be on the increase and with that rain. We got .6" out of the last couple days. I know folks around us that got 2". Thankful I didnt sign up to ride in Garmin Unbound.
From: Westksbowhunter
04-Jun-23
I would like to see the rain hold off for a couple of weeks now, even though we still need it. At least if it comes, continue like it has with showers that don't last very long. Critical hatching period the next couple of weeks. At least the temps haven't been cold. If the temps were in the low 50's and into the high 40's chick mortality would start.
From: ksq232
04-Jun-23
I’ve been seeing that shift forecasted too Matt, I hope they’re right. Many of us are still in desperate need for some real rain.
From: ksq232
09-Jun-23
Well, round one was a swing and a miss. Hope that’s not our big rain for the weekend they’ve been talking about.
From: ksq232
09-Jun-23
Meanwhile in the Western Kansas oasis…. Hopefully it’s hitting everyone out there at least.
From: KsRancher
10-Jun-23
Alright. This one should end it. Your getting it now. Looks like 2 waves going to go over you.
From: Westksbowhunter
10-Jun-23
.87 last night. It always looks much bigger on radar. It was a nice rain. We just don't need any big heavy rains rain now.
From: Ksgobbler
10-Jun-23
Round 2 coming this afternoon/tonight if the forecast holds. For here anyway. Assuming the atmosphere can recover after being overturned, might be western if there is a residual outflow boundary out there
From: ksq232
10-Jun-23
Rained good here at the house early, haven’t heard anything from the farm crew yet. Hopefully this one didn’t miss them, they have 5 ponds completely dry at this point.
From: Westksbowhunter
10-Jun-23
Every pond is dry out here.
From: ksq232
10-Jun-23
They got 1.4”, won’t open up the closed pastures, but it’s a nice reprieve at least. And will help the corn and newly planted beans now going in.
West, you keep comparing your area to ours, that’s fine I guess, but let me ask you two questions: How much annual rainfall do you average? And how many acres per head of cattle do you need out there? I’m guessing both answers look much different than that of a rancher/farmer in SEK. I had a very good job opportunity many years ago in Dodge City after my internship. Like I’ve said before, I turned it down because I did not want to live in a semi-arid climate. If you want to live out there, fine; there are some great people out that way, but don’t compare your climate to ours. Didn’t you live in SEK once upon a time???
From: Westksbowhunter
10-Jun-23
I'm not comparing anything. You are the one posting a rain map of western Kansas.
From: cherney12
10-Jun-23
Assume you’d be cool with folks in Eastern Nebraska minimizing your drought troubles then right, James? Their land costs a lot more than SEK and they average even more rain than you! Fact is if you have farm bills to pay and it doesn’t rain it’s pretty tough no matter where you live.
From: ksq232
10-Jun-23
West, you’re quite the fella, I’m glad you’re not a state fan, or I would never stop arguing with you, you’d be worse than Kyle and cherney combined!!! Lol
I agree cherney, that’s why I posted that I was hoping the rain out west was widespread. I’m not sure what you mean about someone in another part of the country minimizing our drought troubles, you have family in eastern NE or something? Western Kansas as a whole has gotten a LOT of rain the last month; this is due to a very unusual weather pattern that has also given Eastern CO some much needed rain. There are some out there that have missed it tho. We need some very consistent BIG rain here in SEK. The rivers are low, lakes are low, and as I’ve said ponds are empty and people are selling a lot of cattle. At least the market is still very good. Hula Lake in NE Oklahoma, fed by Kansas creeks and rivers Verdigris and Caney, was completely dry a few weeks ago, not sure if it still is. Kyler could probably say the last time, if ever, that happened.
Oh and btw cherney, Independence, KS averages significantly more annual precipitation than Omaha, NE. 44” compared to about 37” when factoring in that 10” of snow is equal to 1” of rain.
From: be still
10-Jun-23
James I’m disappointed that I wasn’t included on the list with Kyle and Patrick…guess I got to up my game a little:?)
From: Slate
10-Jun-23
Can’t change it. Mother Nature is going to do what she is going to do.
From: ksq232
10-Jun-23
Calhoun, you’re close, work just a little harder this fall and you MIGHT make the cut….lol!!
From: sitO
10-Jun-23
It's not that hard really. Just renounce those who cheat, and have no ethics. Don't waste time worrying about things you can't control, and win...above all else.
From: Westksbowhunter
10-Jun-23
Win if you can, loose if you must, but always cheat is my motto.
From: ksq232
10-Jun-23
Easy now fellas, let’s stick with rain. And yes, I know I’m the one who brought it up. Lol
From: Kansan
11-Jun-23
A little over 2 inches in Caney, Kansas over the past 24 hours. Best rain we’ve had in over a year.
From: ksq232
11-Jun-23
Yep, we got it at our house Kyler. Still really spotty though, the Bayless crew got a decent rain, but not that good. They are still awaiting their first 2” rain in over a year.
From: be still
11-Jun-23
Once upon a time there was a nice gentleman that started complaining cause somebody was getting rain and he wasn’t…then started complaining again when he got rain and they didn’t.
From: Catscratch
11-Jun-23
Odd man out. We got 6 tenths a couple of nights ago. Otherwise it's all missed us.
From: Westksbowhunter
11-Jun-23
Hail last night. Exactly what we don't need.
From: cherney12
11-Jun-23
From: ksq232
11-Jun-23
Don’t look now, but the extended forecast is beginning to look like crap again. No significant chance for rain for weeks. Dang it, I hope they’re wrong. We cannot stand another summer like the last two.
From: Westksbowhunter
11-Jun-23
Looks like a good rain chance on Thursday for us. But like I said, it needs to hold off for a week or two til the pheasant chicks get a little bigger. Unless it is just rain showers, no downpours.
From: keepemsharp
12-Jun-23
Last weekend on the Smoky Valley Ranch South of Oakley had more green grass than I have ever seen there.
From: KsRancher
16-Jun-23
TTT
From: ksq232
16-Jun-23
This unusual weather pattern is effectively turning eastern CO into a rain forest, or it would if this kept up. Hopefully the reservoirs are all full by now. My folks have always enjoyed staying a Hasty Lake on the way to the San Juan Mtns.
From: Justhunt
17-Jun-23
Here’s a screenshot from a post on Facebook about the sandsage bison range in Garden City. 9.41” of rain since April 26. Crazy I think their annual rainfall is like 16”.
From: KB
17-Jun-23
Regretting not applying for my usual E Colorado tag this year. Makes for a fun hunt when they’ve had moisture, and this is all-time moisture in some spots. A buddy NE of Garden officially topped his ‘22 totals on all his ground after Thursday night, in just the last six weeks. No triple digits and more chances in the long range. Hard to ask for a better June out there. Wish these systems would hold together farther east though. Maybe today.
Will be interesting to watch the corn belt the next couple weeks. There’s a swath from NE Missouri/SE Iowa up through most of Michigan that hasn’t had hardly any moisture since planting.
From: keepemsharp
17-Jun-23
Interesting just hunt, look just like buffalo :)
From: Ksgobbler
17-Jun-23
We got put back in severe drought from moderate. My yard isnt looking good, but my pasture grasses look good right now. Just goes to show you how well adapted they are. We got the motor for our last brush truck that needs repair. Looks like rain in the forecast tonight.
From: ksq232
17-Jun-23
I was going to snap a pic of my in-laws pastures today and forgot. The only green in them is weeds, looks like late August, not mid June. Hopefully we get something substantial tonight.
From: Ksgobbler
18-Jun-23
Not much if any rain. Highs in the 90s. Gonna get interesting again.
From: Westksbowhunter
18-Jun-23
We got .70 total for the rain friday and saturday. Looking at the radar last night you would have thought we were getting flooded buy it just didn't rain. 7.93 year to date. We are one of the driest counties in the state for the year.
From: cherney12
18-Jun-23
1.75” last night here praise God
From: Westksbowhunter
18-Jun-23
Our rains have been frequent but small. Exactly what is needed for a good hatch. All will be for nothing if we don't get rain in July and they allow the emergency grazing again. We need more rain to produce cover for this fall.
From: Ksgobbler
18-Jun-23
Native grass looking good.
From: Thornton
18-Jun-23
Got spooky at the farm last night. Multiple radar indicated tornado warnings and constant lightning. Drove up the road on a hill and the wind started howling on the power lines and hardly anything moving below.
From: Thornton
18-Jun-23
A pond that was 5 feet low west of me is now running around the dam.
From: ksq232
19-Jun-23
Ended up with less than a quarter this weekend. Got right to our doorstep and died once again. I’m out of town this week and hoping the newly planted persimmons from this spring don’t die, they are already pretty stressed. Wheat will be coming out like crazy this week I’m sure. I’ve heard the yields have been pretty decent, wheat around us usually suffers in late spring from too much rain, not the last 2 years though.
From: Westksbowhunter
21-Jun-23
.25 last night. Looks like we might get a little more in an hour but it may peter out.
From: Slate
21-Jun-23
.25 yeah that’s about what they say about you Jefferey over there on the pride site.
From: ksq232
22-Jun-23
Missed another one today, by about 30 miles this time. Long term forecast absolutely sucks. Still living in exceptional drought in western Montgomery county.
From: Kansan
22-Jun-23
It sure hurts watching storm after storm get to the doorstep of Chautauqua / Montgomery Counties, and then just fizzle out.
It’s gotten to where you can predict it to a T.
From: Ksgobbler
22-Jun-23
Im north of you. My yard has alot of brown in it. It looks like late July/early August. Did have a grass fire 2 days ago. We are to the point if a truck goes out something breaks.
From: Ksgobbler
25-Jun-23
Here is a crack in the ground at the house. Too early in the summer for that. I was just out walking through the pasture and it would burn right now.
From: ksq232
25-Jun-23
I hear ya Matt, it’s GOTTA rain sometime. We’ve been waiting too long. You can’t just stop everything though. Our farmer is double cropping beans this week; and I’m planting buckwheat and clover in 3 plots. There is nothing to throw and mow in to, hopefully that will change for fall.
From: Ksgobbler
25-Jun-23
Ryan hall yall doing the live streaming on youtube. Some big tornadoes on the ground in Indiana. Those storms look perfect on radar.
From: Kansasclipper
27-Jun-23
We got a nice little shower this morning. Haven't checked yet but around .30 maybe a little more. Wasn't even in the forecast. Just what is needed for the CRP and slows down the wheat harvest.
From: ksq232
27-Jun-23
Jack squat here in the desert. Raining North, South, and west of us though….. it will dissipate before it gets to us, just like normal. I’m doing my part, took three day off to do some food plot work. It would be awesome to get rained out!!!
From: Slate
27-Jun-23
James I think you do actually live in the dessert. You can’t get a break
From: ksq232
27-Jun-23
Rained within 5 miles of farm, not a drop though. Not much rain where it did rain, a tenth. Maybe next time.
From: ksq232
27-Jun-23
Rained within 5 miles of farm, not a drop though. Not much rain where it did rain, a tenth. Maybe next time.
From: ksq232
28-Jun-23
Freaking missed us again, this time by less than 20 miles to the south. How can this keep happening again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again?? What I would give for a quarter inch rain at this point….
From: Bwhnt
28-Jun-23
Do you or does anyone you know have a roof that needs replacing...? Strip the shingles, guaranteed rain that night.
From: ksq232
28-Jun-23
Our roof is less than a year old, but that’s tempting…
From: Bwhnt
28-Jun-23
Well there's your answer! It's your fault. Just like when you buy a generator. You won't lose power for 5 yrs min.
From: cherney12
28-Jun-23
I would suggest to stop to try to stop complaining on bowsite and maybe God will see that your grumbling has stopped and send some your way?
From: ksq232
28-Jun-23
The long term ag service forecasts still seem to have us getting rain by the middle of July, I certainly hope they’re right. Something about westerly flow coming back into the Midwest.
From: Kansasclipper
28-Jun-23
I hope we get a flood in July. Something to bring the water levels up at Cedar Bluff.
From: ksq232
28-Jun-23
Cedar bluff looked pretty rough last fall when we were out there. Nothing like the summer of ‘99 when I was there last.
From: Kansasclipper
28-Jun-23
Well it is down even more now. However, it was lower back in 2012 or so. The small lake at Jetmore was loaded with big bass, it is now dry.
From: ksq232
28-Jun-23
That sucks. Hula lake about 30 miles from us dried up, it had some really good flatheads and blues in it. Being river fed, it will restock quickly when we finally get some rain.
From: Kansasclipper
28-Jun-23
I've been catching good bass at Cedar Bluff the last couple weeks. Still a great place to fish.
From: ksq232
29-Jun-23
It’s hay season here in SEK. Local yields are pitiful as expected. My father-in-law is pretty desperate; unfortunately, so is everyone else. So, there is no surplus for anyone to sell again. This has been the story for a couple years now.
From: Kansasclipper
01-Jul-23
.46 yesterday evening
From: ksq232
01-Jul-23
Same at the farm this morning clipper. Will help the beans for sure. Wish it had stayed cloudy today to keep it from evaporating fast, cooler temps are nice tho.
From: ksq232
03-Jul-23
Missed another good one, looks like it’s pouring south of us in OK. It just died up here coming from the west and was supposed to die down there too, but it didn’t, lucky them.
From: Slate
03-Jul-23
James NOOOO. I saw the post and knew it was you :-) I was hoping you had good news.
From: Kansasclipper
03-Jul-23
We didn't get any rain last night either.
From: ksq232
03-Jul-23
Yep Slate, embry will be on here again soon talking about the abundant rains and the chirping quail and the buzzing bees.
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
Absolutely pouring in NEK looks like. Hope it makes it here!!!
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
I simply can no longer believe it’s ever going to rain good again. How many times can it die at our doorstep? I’m looking NW right now and it looks phenomenal, but it won’t make it here, it simply no longer does. Closing in on 14 months without a 2” rain. If we don’t get some very good rain out these next 4 days of chances, we’ll once again be royally screwed; ponds still dry and pastures still not growing.
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
According to radar, it’s raining pretty good at the farm, I hope it’s right! Not gonna call the in-laws and get a report for a while yet.
From: sitO
05-Jul-23
2.5" here overnight, in ICT, and they're saying another 7" by end of week. Hope it gets to ya James, I need the Scout Ranch to fill up too!
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
Yeah Kyle, Chautauqua is hurting BAD too.
From: Westksbowhunter
05-Jul-23
Hope it's good weather in your county next week, I will be fishing at Big Hill for a couple days.
From: KsRancher
05-Jul-23
2.25in at my place in Pratt Co. since 5:30 this morning
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
Not sure yet what we have gotten so far today, less than an inch tho.
From: Catscratch
05-Jul-23
4 inches! It had been over 400 days since we had a 2 incher. Even rains this spring have been skipping over us. It's damn nice out right now.
From: Justhunt
05-Jul-23
Looking pretty good for the next couple days across southern ks. The lighter orange color is 5-7” over the next week.
From: be still
05-Jul-23
Now that’s a good pic.
From: ksq232
05-Jul-23
8/10s
Fizzled out right over us. Happy for you Cat! I sincerely hope we’re next.
From: Slate
06-Jul-23
Yeah I will be getting a lot of that rain Pete is talking about. Beans are growing pretty good. This will help a lot. Last year was a total loss. Still rooting for you James.
From: KsRancher
06-Jul-23
Added 1in over the night. 3.25in the last 24hrs
From: ksq232
06-Jul-23
Coming down here again this morning, not a gully washer, but we’ll take it. If we can get the big one in a couple days after soaking the ground decently with these lighter rains, we could really get some help for the ponds.
From: ksq232
07-Jul-23
Well, the drama queen meteorologists missed it by a mile once again. Ponds and creeks are to remain empty indefinitely I guess. Meanwhile, our family in OKC is getting another gully washer. Approaching 400 days now without a 2” rain, shooting for Cat’s record.
From: KsRancher
08-Jul-23
Had another .6 yesterday for a total of 3.85in since Wednesday morning when it started. Had rain and hail thru the night. Haven't been out to check the gauge yet
From: KsRancher
08-Jul-23
Another 2.4in overnight for a total of 6.25in in the last 72hrs
From: One Arrow
08-Jul-23
We haven’t caught anything from these storms coming through for the last month.
Beyond desperate. We’ve avoided selling cattle, but it’s at a breaking point.
From: ksq232
08-Jul-23
Western Kansas is tired of the rain, some friends in Colby and Dodge City are beyond sick of it, send it east please!!!
From: ksq232
08-Jul-23
Well, you sent it east, but south too unfortunately….
From: KsRancher
09-Jul-23
Added .2in overnight. Looks like we will get another one thru the night. Probably be getting close to ending wheat harvest in our area to due to sprout
From: One Arrow
09-Jul-23
KSRANCH…. Will there be much left unharvested?
From: Kansasclipper
09-Jul-23
I doubt many out west are sick of it, unless they are sick themselves. None of the farmers here are sick of it, they welcome it. Colby has received 13.51 inches for the year and Dodge City 12.72. If the rain doesn't continue in July, we will see emergency grazing again this fall. Exactly what we don't need. Milo is looking good and so is the corn, the wheat was already shot. Wheat is about 50% harvested here, and much won't be harvested due to weeds.
From: Kansasclipper
09-Jul-23
KSQ here is a quote from Haskell county July 7: Kendall Poland, of the Sublette Co-op in Haskell County, said harvest has just really gotten started. Only one of his farmers has been able to get into the fields after these recent rains. The wheat crop is shaping up to be very minimal so far - almost 95 percent of dryland wheat acres were abandoned in the area. With wheat harvest only having just begun on Tuesday, June 27, and more rain in the forecast, wheat harvest might extend much further into the calendar than what anyone is used to.
Despite the slow start to harvest, Poland remarked how much of a blessing these rains have been to this parched area of Kansas. Hailstorms have torn through the area causing damage to corn and cotton acres. Although the hail wasn't large, there was a lot of it.
From: KsRancher
09-Jul-23
I would say that 25-30% of our wheat was insuranced out due to drought. And then the hail came thru and got a little more of it. I would guess that we have 15% left to cut in our area. It's the stuff that was sprayed for weeds after trying to cut it and not being able to get thru it.
From: squirrel
09-Jul-23
Threaded the needle on too wet on the wheat in its final stages and keeping the corn in the game. Ended up with a very workable compromise over all, SO FAR... Wheat was a very acceptable yield and the corn is looking good as those pesky deer strip it as fast as they can. Double crop beans taking advantage of the post wheat rain as the corn fills out.
Working a very fine line with next to zero moisture in reserve or in the creekbed. But it sure beats the hell out of last year. A few more weeks like the last two would be most appreciated.
Them deers is gonna pay a fierce price for their corn poaching.
From: ksq232
09-Jul-23
Squirrel, that’s a great job of summing up rainfall so far this year— threading the needle and flirting with disaster; BUT much better than last year so far. This explains exactly what we’re dealing with here on the Montgomery/Chautauqua county line.
From: Kansasclipper
09-Jul-23
Fished Cedar Bluff this afternoon. Water was down about another foot from 2 weeks ago. No water running in at all from the Smokey and the feeder creeks are all completely dry. We need more rain and lots of it.
From: One Arrow
09-Jul-23
Well, I guess we are in a hot zone then because I cannot say we are better off than last year. Wheat was good, but it was good last year as well. We are in way worse shape.
Trying to live off a wheat crop and an insurance check is getting pretty depressing. We can’t put many of these years together.
Corn is going to be crap…. That is carved in stone.
Beans could still make, if we had some rain soon.
And to top it off the “lake” we built had started to have some water…. But it’s almost bone dry. Decided to cut an overflow from a nearby pond to try and fill the lake. Now the pond will take a significant rain before it has any runoff.
From: EmbryOklahoma
10-Jul-23
Crazy all the rain is missing you guys up north. We have had over 2.5” in July already which is over the monthly average in NE Oklahoma. OKC area had a 4” rainfall overnight yesterday. Where I hunt in the SE part of the state, we’ve had 12” of rain in the last 60 days according to mesonet. Hope you guys get some good rains for those crops!
From: One Arrow
12-Jul-23
I’m a shy man, but if it takes a naked rain dance for this one to happen, I’ll do it… hoping for 5+ inches of rain
From: ksq232
13-Jul-23
How the crap did this miss us??? Not a drop
From: Ksgobbler
13-Jul-23
None here either. Formed just to our south. I planted buckwheat after work since we had a 50% chance so hoping friday's rain comes true. If not I burned through $175.
From: ksq232
13-Jul-23
Yep, buckwheat is awesome stuff, if we can get it to grow around here. I have a young stand of it right now in 3 different plots. First time since ‘20 that I got it to germinate. Needs some rain on it now tho.
From: One Arrow
13-Jul-23
1.4” here… just a few miles East got 3.5”.
Sure hope this rains they are predicting the next few days come through
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Not a drop……..skirted us to the south AGAIN Beginning to build west of us, PLEASE hold together! The humidity is 91% right now, NO reason to not pour.
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Straight west of us right now, PLEASE!!!
From: MDW
14-Jul-23
Was setting on the porch just a few minutes ago, wondering if any of it was hitting your place Jamie? Hope so.
From: Kansasclipper
14-Jul-23
Saw Chanute got 9 inches.
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Nope, missed us again… With so many people getting good rain so close to us, it has gotten beyond personal now.
From: Buckdeer
14-Jul-23
Another chance tonight.I got a 1/10 at farm and 4 miles away 1.5 inches
From: KsRancher
14-Jul-23
Ok James. You have to be getting something out of this one
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Nope, sidewalk isn’t even completely wet at my in-law’s, they’re sick. Here at the house we’ve gotten 15/100s so that’s something I guess….
Yet more proof that radar maps have a lot in common with democrat politicians.
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
From: Ksgobbler
14-Jul-23
.8" here.
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Where’s “here” Matt?
From: Justhunt
14-Jul-23
I had 1.25” in the gauge after this afternoons storm south of McPherson. No idea how much we actually got it was coming in sideways.
From: ksq232
14-Jul-23
Just got word from the neighbor, the farm got a tenth.
From: sitO
15-Jul-23
sitO's Link
My Dad and I were headed to Ft Collins yesterday on I70 and drove through this. It was one of the most unique weather occurances I've encountered in my life. People were diving for the shoulders of the highway(in their vehicles), as the wind was almost overwhelming and instant.
We kept rolling, hell we're from KS and thought we'd seen everything, but the dust/rain/gusts/strange clouds were something neither of us had ever encountered.
Nobody hurt, no vehicle damage, just a cool phenomenon I'd never considered or heard of before.
From: crestedbutte
15-Jul-23
Glad you guys were OK. My wife, kids and in-laws drove thru it while on their way up to Ft. Collins yesterday as well. Longshot…but maybe you saw them….dark royal blue suburban packed to the ceiling?
From: KsRancher
16-Jul-23
I would say our drought is broken and a little more
From: Kansasclipper
16-Jul-23
Great Bend is a mess. 82 mph wind and possibly a tornado. The hail ripped the leaves from the tree's along the Walnut creek. Broke out all the windows on my sons house, damaged the roof, tore off the guttering, etc. The town looks horrible.
From: KsRancher
18-Jul-23
We heard a bad storm was coming. So we were expecting it to tear the heck out of the place. But the bad part of the storm was about 3-5 miles west of hwy 281 as it went thru or area. I don't think it was near as bad down our way as it was up around Great Bend
From: Kansasclipper
18-Jul-23
It looked like someone threw shot puts all over my son's yard.
From: One Arrow
18-Jul-23
Wow… as bad as we need run-off, I’ll take a drought over hail like that.
From: Bwhnt
18-Jul-23
Might see some dead livestock or wildlife from that no...? Geeesh!
From: Kansasclipper
18-Jul-23
I saw hail worse than that one time in McCook NE. I went over to my sons house 90 minutes after the storm cleared and there was still hail in the yard.
From: ksq232
20-Jul-23
Well, I was hoping me being in Florida would change our rain fortunes back home, but no such luck, it stopped ranking here in Florida too, when we arrived. Lol
From: KB
20-Jul-23
Buddy NE of Garden sent some pics of milo fields pounded into the dirt and some possible twister damage. Looked like that thing mowed a pretty good swath from Wallace Co to Greensburg before it weakened.
From: Ksgobbler
21-Jul-23
We missed the rain yesterday. Coworker got an 1.5" and we didnt get a drop. Got a little bit today.
From: ksq232
21-Jul-23
Getting some decent rain now in western Montgomery county. The reports are good, no huge rain, but nice and steady. Should last about 3 hours total.
From: Kansasclipper
21-Jul-23
Looks like a large portion of western Kansas will be open to emergency grazing again. This sucks.
From: KB
21-Jul-23
Dodge airport had their highest single day total in 16 years.
From: Kansasclipper
21-Jul-23
.80 last night here, our biggest rain of 2023.
From: crestedbutte
21-Jul-23
Driving west on Highway 50 today heading to my cabin in CB. From Kinsley, KS to La Junta, CO there are flooded ditches and fields for as far as the eye can see. Way worse on the Colorado side. Arkansas River is running strong. Incredible to see that much water.
Same system that crossed across the entire southern part of the state from state line to state line.
From: ksq232
21-Jul-23
Crested, it would be THE year to travel to SW CO. Only one time in all memory can I recall seeing it as green in SE CO as I’m guessing it is this year.
From: KB
21-Jul-23
With all the moisture I had a bad case of fomo after not applying in the primary draw. Picked up a whitetail tag in the secondary for some eastern CO units. Hopefully I find the time to get out there.
Driving east from a sheep hunt last August it was incredibly green from Colorado Springs to Weskan, but shut off quickly after. Definitely more rain this year though.
From: Dale06
21-Jul-23
Brother said said the area around Ness City and south toward Jetmore received 1-1.5”. As is the case in many areas of Ks, it was much needed.
From: KsRancher
21-Jul-23
We had 1" Wednesday night/Thursday morning and then another .75" last night. The last summer I remember being this wet was around 2002-2003, I don't remember the exact year.
From: Bwhnt
22-Jul-23
Your welcome to steal some of ours.
From: Ksgobbler
22-Jul-23
5 miles in
5 miles in
Went from 0 chance to "stray shower or storm" to monsoon in less than an hour. Glad I cut it off at the 5 mile mark and headed for home. Less than 5 min after I got back it cut lose.
From: Ksgobbler
26-Jul-23
Saw corn being cut for silage near Madison last night. I cant remember seeing silage coming out this early. Corn here by the house looks crappy. Had a grass fire last night caused by a swather hitting a rock
From: Thornton
26-Jul-23
They cut triticale wheat and corn really early around here for silage.
From: Ksgobbler
26-Jul-23
Another fire up by Americus today. 3 hay field fires in 2 days.
From: One Arrow
27-Jul-23
I just went through Ness City… I won’t complain annymore.
Everything I saw from Eastern Colorado to West of Great Bend looks horrible. Saw a lot of hail damage and corn dying(not maturing)… most couldn’t have been over 4 foot tall. Milo looked just as bad. Saw miles of fields not planted.
The few bright spots were the irrigated fields, but they hadn’t even tasseled yet. Not sure of their growing season if they just plant later or it was weather related, but it looks like it’s a month behind ours.
I did see a pheasant (been a few years) and I believe a dead pronghorn near Little Jerusalem. Just caught it out of the corner of my eye… I’m guessing they are out that way??
From: Bwhnt
27-Jul-23
Did the corn that was chopped have ears yet or was it a case of let's take what we can before we lose it all? I can't imagine it had ears of any size or maturity?
From: Ksgobbler
27-Jul-23
They were far enough off the road I was traveling on I couldnt tell. There was another hayfield fire north of Waverly last night.
From: Westksbowhunter
27-Jul-23
Ray when I drove through McCune 2 weeks ago it looked like a tropical rain forest compared to us. We have had just about 10 inches of rain fit the year and about that all of last year. Hail shreaded the trees here but many of the trees are suffering disease from the drought. Actually SEK looked s little dry. Just kidding you.
From: ksq232
27-Jul-23
Went to the farm yesterday after getting back from Florida. I can’t believe we got 1.4” of rain just 5 days before, you can’t tell it. The double crop beans will be taken out by this 100 degree dry wind. Another pond went dry while we were gone. The early season beans are trying to hang tough, but struggling mightily. Meanwhile less than 15 miles away south of independence, the crops look pretty good. I’m so tired of these hit and miss rains. When are we going to get something that gets all of us? Still setting at less than 9” of rain on the year and now entering 15 months since the last 2” rain.
From: KB
27-Jul-23
Interesting map I saw floating around this morning in some corn belt drought discussions.
From: One Arrow
27-Jul-23
Jeff, we’ve actually had about that much rain this year… it’s just been timely, I think that’s the only reason our crops “look” better. I’m not sure how much better they actually are…. And just a few miles South of us they’ve had 6”+ rain more than us. It’s been extremely spotty.
I’m not sure who thought it was a good idea to farm in Kansas, the last 2 years we’ve had a rough go of it.
“All of Kansas is hay and cattle country” according to my dad. He’s probably right.
From: ksq232
27-Jul-23
Arrow, my folks live near Altamont and an Aunt lives in Parsons. At least a couple times a month for the past 3 years my Aunt has called my mom and said “can you believe this rain?”, and Mom says, “what rain?” They are hurting in southern Labette county too.
From: Kansasclipper
27-Jul-23
It's hotter than hell out here. No wind and smoking hot. It's hotter than a Bill Clinton hot tub.
From: One Arrow
27-Jul-23
Yep, Parsons has gotten several rains that we continue to miss. We are East of there… not far, but far enough to make a difference. Seems like it hits the Neosho and either dissipates or splits and goes completely around us.
From: ksq232
27-Jul-23
For some reason Arrow, I thought you were up near Erie. You must not be too far from the ammo plant.
From: One Arrow
28-Jul-23
I’m East of the Ammo plant…. A short distance from Big Brutus
From: Ksgobbler
28-Jul-23
Rode by a WIHA here by the house. The CRP has been hayed. Swather is parked at the other piece they have enrolled a couple miles down the road. Lots of trees going yellow with the drought stress. Wondering if ehd is fixing to smoke us?
From: Westksbowhunter
28-Jul-23
If you have to have standing water for ehd, then the answer is no.
From: One Arrow
28-Jul-23
I believe the drought is so severe that EHD is going to be minimal.
My observations last year…. No mud. More of the same this year. It’s my understanding the midges thrive in the muddy areas close to water.
From: Ksgobbler
28-Jul-23
Lots of muddy farm pond banks. Most still have water with alot of mud around the edges.
From: Ksgobbler
30-Jul-23
Getting good rain right now. Heard a few hailstones.
From: Kansasclipper
30-Jul-23
Won't have to worry about any EHD from the Smokey Hill River, its bone dry. There was a trickle of water running down it about 3 feet wide a couple of weeks ago, but I guess they sucked out the last drop for irrigation.
From: ksq232
30-Jul-23
I hate summer, it freaking sucks. More rain close but no cigar, I’m not surprised. I wish the Texans would keep their lovely heat dome to themselves.
From: Ksgobbler
31-Jul-23
We got lucky. Golfball sized hail just north of us. 70+ mph winds just east of us. Sounds like the SE part of the county took alot of damage.
From: be still
31-Jul-23
James it is a little bit warm down here but to me it’s a good thing. Some people pay big money to have a sauna built so they can sit in there to sweat their toxins out.
I get to work outside and sweat…so I’m getting healthy and making money all at the same time. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky in life.
From: ksq232
31-Jul-23
If the dome wasn’t pushing all of the rain away, it wouldn’t be so bad. I’ll never understand weather, it’s plenty humid here, but the rain is riding a ridge that is setting 100 miles NE of us. You can literally see the lightening at night on the horizon, but it can’t come to us, wrong side of the ridge.
From: be still
31-Jul-23
You don’t know it yet but this is going to turn out good for you James. You’re turning out to be a hell of a weatherman and probably get hired on as the top man in Wichita in the future.
Look at there bud...you’ll get to vent and make money all at the same time:?)
From: Ksgobbler
31-Jul-23
.6" from last night's storm
From: Kansasclipper
31-Jul-23
Corn didn't make out here. Worst corn I think I have ever seen out here. 3 feet tall at best. Lot of millet planted back in early June but it is looking scorched.
From: ksq232
31-Jul-23
I guess that’s one way to look at it Calhoun, but if I’m one of em I can’t pile on em, or can I???
From: be still
31-Jul-23
I guess you can do whatever you want to do…as of right now it’s still a free country. If I understand the meaning of the word right I’m sure you’ll find something or someone to pile on I reckon.
I’m pretty sure too though that if you ever make the weatherman job we’ll get our daily report without fail:?)
From: ksq232
31-Jul-23
Yep, much bigger audience though, for a while anyway. Lol
From: ksq232
05-Aug-23
Got a decent rain here this morning, maybe an inch or so. My Aunt said Parsons got 6” Arrow. Is that right?
From: Kansasclipper
05-Aug-23
Parsons reported 3.62. We got .30 on Tuesday night, .90 on Thursday night, and .18 last night. 11.69 for the year. According to Kstate, the county I live in has reported the fourth lowest rain totals in the state for the year. Graham county is the lowest at 10.16.
From: Ksgobbler
05-Aug-23
Sprinkled for a few minutes while I was on my bicycle this morning.
From: crestedbutte
05-Aug-23
From: Kansan
05-Aug-23
We got 1.25” here in Caney this morning. We needed it, and a whole lot more. All of the ponds are still very low, to bone dry. Most towns in these parts are on water restrictions again, including us.
From: Ksgobbler
05-Aug-23
https://www.kwch.com/2023/08/05/water-dries-up-se-kansas-communities-enact-mandatory-water-conservation/
The corn has started being cut for silage in earnest here locally.
From: ksq232
05-Aug-23
Not sure about those measurements clip. My Aunt, who lives in Parsons, poured 6” out of her gauge this morning. Also, our family farm is still setting at less than 10” on the year. That is on the Chautauqua/Montgomery county line, east of Sedan.
From: Kansasclipper
05-Aug-23
Kansasclipper's Link
That is what Parsons reported. You can verify here.
From: ksq232
05-Aug-23
I’m just saying rain in Parsons varied, just like rain in counties. Lol, I don’t think my Aunt lied to me.
From: One Arrow
05-Aug-23
Yes, I’ve heard 5”+ from multiple people… up to 6”. Again, it broke up at the River and most went South of us by just a few miles. Varied quite a bit over that way, but most West of the River got over 4”
We got about 1.5” here. Not what we need, but it keeps us moving forward. Guys have already tried picking corn here.
From: One Arrow
05-Aug-23
As for apps and computer “estimates”, they can be fairly accurate at times, but I’ve seen them way off from what I’ve seen in numerous rain gauges.
From: ksq232
09-Aug-23
Looks like we will be barely missed by yet another big rain.
From: ksq232
09-Aug-23
I can see the lightening up north…
From: Kansan
09-Aug-23
It’s all so tiresome at this point…
From: Kansasclipper
09-Aug-23
1.60 last night and 1.70 on Monday night. A total of 4.68 for the month of August. Good rain for the driest part of the state. A little too late as they have been butchering the CRP. They have been cutting corn for quite a while but I have also seen them cutting the milo. Worst looking milo I have even seen out here. Bad news for pheasants. Anxious to see how the drought monitor looks tomorrow.
From: ksq232
09-Aug-23
I believe we’re knocking on the door of your longest stretch without a 2” rain Cat. May 30th of ‘22. If my math is correct, we’re setting on 435 days. Still below 11” of rain on the year, finally got over the 10” hump last week, so that’s something I guess. This is after 16” of total rainfall in ‘22. This drought puts the 20s and late 50s of last century to shame. I wonder what it would have looked like the last 2 years without no-till farming???
From: One Arrow
09-Aug-23
1.8” at my house… most we’ve had in a single even in over a year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t wide spread, but most fields got at least .9”
From: Kansasclipper
09-Aug-23
Great Bend reported 3.74 last night but one of my teacher friends said she had 4.16 in her gauge. Great Bend has been getting good rain all summer. I'm heading there in a few minutes, so will see how wet she looks. Looks like more rain tonite. Went to Scott City yesterday, and things look much better out there.
From: Dale06
09-Aug-23
Ksq232 makes a great point re no till farming. My brother farms about 40 miles north of Dodge City. He no tills. Some neighbors like to over work the soil and keep their land clean, very old school. The difference between my brothers crops and their crops is drastic. But they keep on “old schooling.”
From: ksq232
09-Aug-23
Dale, we used to hunt a 4600 acre ranch between Dodge City and Jetmore. It was bar none, the best place I’ve ever hunted. I doubt I’ll ever get to experience something like that again!
From: Dale06
09-Aug-23
KSQ232, Our farm is 18 or so miles north of Jetmore. Prior to 2012 the pheasant hunting was off the charts good. That was the super hot drought year. Since then it been horrible. Last year and I will again this year buy 15-20 pen raised roosters, release them and then hunt that large field. There’s 6-8 of us hunting with two good labs. Without those released birds we would kill 2-4 birds total. And we have some great habitat to hunt. Deer hunting was pretty good but has been on a steep decline the past seven or so years. Dove hunting usually is very good. Actually last year was the best ever. Good luck this fall.
From: ksq232
09-Aug-23
It’s funny you mention birds Dale, while we were allowed to chase whitetails, that particular ranch was off limits for quail and pheasants. I never knew why because I was NEVER going to push the issue. They had irrigation pivots closer to Dodge we chased some pheasants on.
From: ksq232
11-Aug-23
It’s so freaking humid outside you can hardly breathe, and we can’t squeeze even a drop out of these clouds? Seriously???
From: One Arrow
11-Aug-23
Played basketball outside with the wife and kids just a few minutes ago. I’m sweating like I ran a marathon… zero wind and the humidity is crazy
From: ksq232
12-Aug-23
MO getting our rain again… all we get is sucky thunder without water.
From: ksq232
12-Aug-23
What a wild, crazy world, I wish we could trade rain totals for the last 16 months with DODGE CITY!!!! That’s nuts. They’re getting yet another good rain while we can’t get a drop.
From: ksq232
13-Aug-23
This is what we need over us for DAYS! Bring the floods, bring the tornadoes, bring the hail, just BRING THE RAIN!! Once again we’re getting jack out of this system, our 80% chance for thunderstorms has brought about 10 drops…
From: Kansan
13-Aug-23
6” at a friend’s place near KC today.
From: Ksgobbler
13-Aug-23
Area of interest.
Area of interest.
Tornado warned supercell. Pics taken 1/2 mile west of my house.
From: ksq232
13-Aug-23
Pic doesn’t do justice to the thunderhead north of us right now.
From: ksq232
13-Aug-23
It’s gonna freaking miss us again, meteorologists are a joke…
From: KsRancher
13-Aug-23
The future track shows you getting hit a little later
From: One Arrow
13-Aug-23
Having been through 2 and helping clean-up several farmsteads after one went through… I’ll take a drought over a tornado with zero regrets.
From: ksq232
13-Aug-23
According to future track, the majority of the rain will stay in OK and away from us. Barometer is on the rise here. We’re down to a 30% chance. I sincerely hope they’re wrong, but doofus meteorologists are usually right when they say we’re NOT going to get rain.
From: KsRancher
14-Aug-23
I hope you got something out of it. Just watched the news and it said no rain for Kansas for at least 10 days
From: Catscratch
14-Aug-23
Same thunderhead KSQ... complete with a flock of pelicans.
From: Kansan
14-Aug-23
Got a little over an inch in Caney last night.
From: ksq232
14-Aug-23
My in-laws got 1.8” last night at their farm. That’s the best rain they’ve had in a LONG time. When we’ve gotten the 1” rains in the past few months, they usually get about half of what we get.
From: Ksgobbler
14-Aug-23
We got .75", it came down fast.
From: Two dogs mobile
20-Aug-23
Less than an inch in the last 6 weeks at my place in Chase County. I know one rancher that lost six cattle due to blue green algae. Many cattle are being shipped early due to lack of water. With no rain in the ten day forecast, Soybeans are in trouble.
From: ksq232
20-Aug-23
109 today and no rain in sight in SEK either. More cattle being sold, and some fellas have been hauling water since April. I can’t imagine what some of them are going thru. Meanwhile, California is getting washed into the Pacific — bizarro world!
From: Ksgobbler
21-Aug-23
Been a ton of hayfield/baler/tractor fires. This is one about 14 miles south of the house. Gentlemen lost his baler/tractor/ 12 round bales etc. A coworker lost numerous big round bales and ~20 acres of hay meadow. He felt thankful his equipment was good.
From: Ksgobbler
26-Aug-23
Got a little rain this morning. Grateful for whatever we get. Seeing folks starting to swathing beans. I have a dove food plot I mowed then hit with roundup. I planned to burn it. They put us in a burn ban thursday. Need to get turnips and cereal rye planted but wanting to see if we will get any moisture for germination.
From: ksq232
06-Sep-23
Just heard the first report of a dead deer in a local creek just outside of Coffeyville. Not good.
From: ksq232
08-Sep-23
Missed another rain last night. Went deer watching at the farm yesterday evening; beans are finished, no rain will save them at this point. 3 years straight with no bean crop, in-law’s sold another 40 head yesterday, father-in-law is hauling 1200 gallons of water out of a pool in their creek daily to water what cattle they have left. I asked him how much longer the pool will hold out and he said a couple more weeks maybe. Farm life in SE Kansas these days sucks.
From: Ksgobbler
08-Sep-23
Friend of mine baled 1000 acres of beans last week. They cut all their corn for silage a couple weeks ago. Been grass fires daily. One North of Madison tuesday had greenwood county and all of southern lyon county on it. Another pretty decent one on 56 at the Lyon/Morris county line monday. Guy was burning for sericea control and got 100+ bonus acres.
From: Dale06
08-Sep-23
Man, this Ks drought really sucks for some of you. I live in Mn, and it’s quite dry here, but nothing like you guys are experiencing. My brother runs our family farm in Ness county Ks. The pastures that our great grandfather bought in the 1890s, for the first time ever had no summer grazing on them.
From: ksq232
10-Sep-23
Please, please, please, head east!!!
From: ksq232
11-Sep-23
Typical…. Dust still flying here.
The rain won’t make it to us, and that’s a fact.
From: Kansasclipper
11-Sep-23
.70 today
From: ksq232
11-Sep-23
We might have gotten a quarter this evening. 470 days now since a 2” rain.
From: Ksgobbler
11-Sep-23
Dont know how much we got, but it was too much. However I am thankful for everything we got.
From: Two dogs mobile
12-Sep-23
.80 at my place in Chase County. That is the largest rain in over two months. It may help the second crop Soybeans to at least put on a few beans. The first crop Soybeans are probably beyond help. Crop Insurance will hopefully help to prevent a total loss of income for many local farmers.
From: be still
12-Sep-23
James is this really your place? If it is you got a beautiful green yard and nice looking place bud.
From: ksq232
12-Sep-23
Thanks, you ought to see the yard now lol
From: Bwhnt
15-Sep-23
We got 7 inches of rain on Wed here. I have never seen things so flooded and I'm 51. There was water over roads everywhere you went and some road damage. Too much!!!
From: Kansan
15-Sep-23
What I wouldn’t do for a 7” rain!
From: KsRancher
15-Sep-23
Not a runoff type rain here. But just steady enough to make things a muddy mess. I think we are a little over an inch in 24hrs
From: Bwhnt
15-Sep-23
I was working during a heavy downpour, it was a huge red cell that just sat there for like 45 minutes. You could watch the rivers rise. I went over a bridge then again about 30 min later I swear it rose 3 ft.
From: be still
15-Sep-23
A pic just for you James….
From: ksq232
15-Sep-23
Forecast continuing to look bleak… when is this drought going to break?
Many times in the past I’ve seen people fishing for channel cat off this bridge. The depth is typically around 5-6’. It has looked like this for over a year now. This is the north end of a watershed lake that Illinois creek, which runs through our property, feeds. My father-in-law has another emergency watershed board meeting this evening. Meanwhile he’s still hauling water for the cattle they haven’t sold yet. This is the worse drought in recorded history for Montgomery and Chautauqua counties. It is a sad situation indeed, so I guess I’m whining. I really appreciate the pics though of people getting rain, people complaining of landowners whining, and others complaining about too much rain, it’s warms my heart. And you are truly compassionate people.
From: Bwhnt
15-Sep-23
You got every right to be worried...that's life changing
From: be still
15-Sep-23
Now now James
From: cherney12
15-Sep-23
It'll be okay, James.
From: Thornton
15-Sep-23
Is the Caney River dry down by Sedan?
From: sitO
15-Sep-23
Can't get boats on QSR anymore, it's about to kill my Dad
From: ksq232
15-Sep-23
Not sure Jason, that feeds Hula, right? Somewhere up north they got a good enough rain to put some decent water in Hula, which was almost dry, but that’s been a while ago.
From: KsRancher
15-Sep-23
I just talked to my dad. We are at 2.8in over the last 72hrs. It has came nice and slow. No run off at all. Didn't really help our ponds. This afternoon I finally seen that the worked fields were to a point that they could absorb much more. A little water was starting to pool in a few lower spots and in the harder ground.
From: Thornton
15-Sep-23
No idea, im not very familiar with anything south of Moline. I was looking at a property for sale down there. You can't back a flat bottom off the bank Kyle?
From: ksq232
15-Sep-23
Rancher, where are you again? We haven’t gotten a drop this way. I honestly can’t remember what it’s like to get a rain like that.
From: KsRancher
15-Sep-23
Southern Pratt/Northern Barber
From: sitO
15-Sep-23
Yea, we could do that JT, or a canoe
From: ksq232
15-Sep-23
Ok, I had in my mind that you were up by Emporia for some reason.
From: ksq232
16-Sep-23
Missed us north, maybe round 2 will hold together?
From: ksq232
18-Sep-23
Got nothing out of the last go a couple days ago. Couple more chances this week. Unfortunately, according to in-depth forecasts we’re on the north edge tomorrow and on the south edge this weekend. That has not bode well for us for a long time. I counted up the days today on my phone calendar to get it exact, we’re setting at 473 days since our last 2” rain.
From: Ksgobbler
19-Sep-23
We are getting a little this morning. Thankful for anything we get.
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Looking pretty promising to the west right now…..
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Not an impressive start, less than a tenth so far…
From: ksq232
19-Sep-23
Just got this pic from a buddy who lives 15 miles away SE of coffeyville. He was hoping we got this. We didn’t. Never topped a tenth today. What a start to the freaking deluge!
I have got to learn how to box or something if this drought continues much longer. I’m gonna have a freaking heart attack one of these nights like this. Venting on an archery forum isn’t cutting it anymore.
From: crestedbutte
20-Sep-23
James….I could have told you that back in May when you started this thread. If I had, maybe it would have saved you from the same 130 re-occurring posts that you’ve made since then (over 1 post/day avg. over the last 4 mos.).
IMO, I really don’t believe boxing would fit you. However, knitting….now that might just suit you? Hell, you have enough posts about the weather that by now you should have atleast enough credits for a “minor” in Meteorology.
From: ksq232
20-Sep-23
Apparently the meteorologists missed their projections by about 100 miles east. Not surprising.
From: Kansan
20-Sep-23
So close, but so far away…
From: Catscratch
20-Sep-23
We got cooler temps and it sprinkled for a while. Not enough to make it wet under the truck. The cooler temps are sure nice! Giving me the itch to go chase a deer!
From: Kansan
20-Sep-23
Yes, I am certainly loving the cooler weather!
From: ksq232
21-Sep-23
Soooo, where is this flooding rain tonight supposed to come from???
From: ksq232
22-Sep-23
82,48,86 — the chances of “significant” rainfall the last 3 days.
.05” — I guess the significant rainfall total they were talking about.
5.5” — the amount of rain my sister-in-law has received in Miami, OK the last 3 days.
87, 92 — the chances of significant rainfall the next 2 days, which include heavy thunderstorms with the “possibility of flooding”.
477 — the number of days since our last 2” rain.
18 — the number of lightning flashes I’ve seen from south of the Oklahoma line since I began typing this.
0 — the number of raindrops that have fallen here the last 48 hours.
From: Ksgobbler
22-Sep-23
We got 1.3" a couple mornings ago off a storm that wasnt forecast. Just sat there not moving. A pocket of se lyon county got 3-4" off of it. Last night a storm in NE chase county remained stationary and gave them much needed moisture. Also brought hail. My folks had 1.75" diameter hail in eastern lyon. We got a spritzing of rain at my house. https://kvoe.com/2023/09/21/flood-alerts-continue-isolated-large-hail-also-reported/ Getting ready to get a storm shortly. They are responding to lines down upstream so sounds like we may get some wind.
From: ksq232
22-Sep-23
Once again we find ourselves right in the middle of no-man’s land. Dang, this has gotten old. We did get almost .4” this morning, which is a real toad strangler for us, so that’s something I guess.
From: Kansan
22-Sep-23
As usual, the storms split us like the Red Sea. You can predict it to a T, every time. I’m beginning to believe that Montgomery and Chautauqua Counties are cursed…
We were supposed to get several inches over the past few days. Hardly got over a quarter inch out of the whole thing in Caney.
From: Two dogs mobile
22-Sep-23
I finally got 2 inches at my house in Southern Chase County. A little run off into the ponds, but not much. We need another 2 inches today or tomorrow to get any significant runoff.
From: Two dogs mobile
22-Sep-23
I finally got 2 inches at my house in Southern Chase County. A little run off into the ponds, but not much. We need another 2 inches today or tomorrow to get any significant runoff.
From: ksq232
22-Sep-23
Just took a glimpse at the radar since here in coffeyville it looks like it’s about to pour. This last line missed our farm by less than 5 miles!!! Behind that line the radar is clear all the way to Colorado. Figures….
Two dogs, we don’t even remember what a 2” rain looks like. It’s been 477 days since our last.
Kansan, poor Elk county is in this with us. 3 counties of the lower 48 STATES that have been in a state of drought longer than anywhere else by far.
When we hit 500 days without a 2” rain, I’ll start another thread to celebrate!
From: ksq232
23-Sep-23
Just an update as I listen to the Hawks. Forecasters missed it again. Sunny skies. Ended up with less than a half inch out of this “week of big rains”. Headed back to water trees again tomorrow.
From: ksq232
23-Sep-23
How about a change of pace and some storms come over us? I saw Reed Timmer is in SE Kansas tonight; poor fella, apparently he has not yet heard of our county’s skill of repelling storms, sometimes we’re good enough at it to keep rain out of all of SEK.
From: Ksgobbler
25-Sep-23
Convective Chronicles on youtube is thinking about doing a post event analysis. The models and the rest of us as well thought there would be an arc of semi discrete supercells form from the state line to roughly emporia. The synoptic setup has been seen before in large severe weather outbreaks (Joplin had a similar setup for example).
From: ksq232
25-Sep-23
Just to make sure I understand you correctly gobbler, the models blew it again?
From: Ksgobbler
25-Sep-23
Yep. The models struggled from thursday-sat. My brother needs a new roof after the hail storm thursday. Insurance said they will drop him if he files a claim. I think this will be roof number 3 in like 4 years all from hail storms. It busted all the trim around the windows on his shop as well. He did get 3.7" of rain so that is a silver lining.
From: ksq232
25-Sep-23
Where is he located?
From: Ksgobbler
26-Sep-23
Neosho Rapids
From: Bwhnt
29-Sep-23
And the hits keep coming...I wish I could share we are saturated!!
From: ksq232
03-Oct-23
First chance for rain tonight and tomorrow that we’ve had in a couple weeks. Firing up west and mainly north of us. We’ll see what happens, definitely not holding my breath…. 488 days since a 2” rain.
From: Kansan
04-Oct-23
Thornton, I fish the Caney on the Red Buffalo Ranch by Sedan. It is dry, save for a few deep holes.
Hulah is full, but from rain they’ve gotten down there in Oklahoma. Anything north of Hulah is in a really bad way.
From: Two dogs mobile
04-Oct-23
I only got .20 last night here in Chase County. Hopefully, a little more is coming today. I went out to a rancher friends Sunday afternoon to do a little fishing. While visiting before I went to a pond. He said I might as well clean as many as I can use as a without rain there will be a strong possibility that there will not be any fish left next spring. I went to a pond that he felt was the one that is in the worst shape. I cleaned 18 Crappie, 1 bass, and 1 bluegill. I caught other bass that were in the two pound range that were not meaty enough to clean The hand size Crappie we're meaty, but a couple of bigger ones were not. I have been fishing this pond for over 50 years. I hope this not the end of fish in it
From: ksq232
04-Oct-23
So far we’ve missed any and all rain per usual today. I’ve really been thinking about switching up the new thread when we hit 500 days with a 2” rain. I think it’ll be called The Streak. After all I am a KU football fan and I’m used to losing. So why not celebrate it rather than get upset? Kind of like the “win or lose, we still booze” mentality; though I don’t drink, but you get the point. And I know for a fact this ongoing drought has led to more than a few beers being drunk on nights/days we’re supposed to get rain and don’t. So, look for it, just 11 more days and a new drought thread will begin — “The Streak!”
Btw, I should save it for the new thread but a national weather service recorder was in Sedan this past week and told the locals Sedan is 35” behind schedule when it comes to annual rainfall the combined last two years. And Sedan has gotten more rain than us!
From: ksq232
04-Oct-23
Oh this is just beautiful I tell ya. All the rain last night was moving north to south. What do you wanna bet this one goes east to west???
From: Kansan
04-Oct-23
I hate Oklahoma…
From: ksq232
04-Oct-23
Yep, east to west….
From: cherney12
04-Oct-23
So you’ve had 35” in the last 24 months?
From: cherney12
04-Oct-23
So you’ve had 35” in the last 24 months?
From: ksq232
04-Oct-23
Sedan has, not us. And actually Sedan averages 41” of rain a year, that would mean they’ve have received 47” of rain in the last 2 years.
From: ksq232
04-Oct-23
In May of 2022, our farm received 13” of rain, before that we had been very dry. From June of ‘22 to now we’ve received approximately 16” of rain. My in-law’s ranch in that time, has received 13”, and they are only 5 miles from our property. Our house on the other hand, 14 miles east has received 23” in that time.
From: Kansan
05-Oct-23
Sedan is even worse off than Caney is. It doesn’t matter at this point through. The whole region is turning into a desert.
From: ksq232
08-Oct-23
They freaking killed our chance for rain this week. This is looking to be the worst fall in a series of horrible falls. We are EASILY going to surpass 500 days without a 2” rain. Are we ever going to catch a break???
From: ksq232
09-Oct-23
A week from today we will have surpassed 500 days since our last 2” rain. I’ll begin the new thread. Oh joy…..
From: ksq232
09-Oct-23
A week from today we will have surpassed 500 days since our last 2” rain. I’ll begin the new thread. Oh joy…..
From: Ksgobbler
09-Oct-23
It sucks for sure but I am just going to take it in stride. Its allowing folks to get their ponds cleaned out and dams fixed. They can get alot of work done in wetlands getting rid of cattails, phragmites, etc. We are back to full strength to battle grass fires. Mother nature is in charge and there is nothing we can do about it. Every time we try to tame her she humbles us.
From: ksq232
09-Oct-23
A couple pics from my evening of deer watching from the barn. Neighbor to the south watering his herd, his biggest pond dried up 3 weeks ago. The beans on us — 3 farmers crop farm the section and a half our property is on. None of them have had a bean harvest since the fall of 2020. Our creek is completely dry now. I’m not sure how far deer are having to go to get water. The fella who owns the SE 160 has a spring fed pond, but I haven’t asked him if it’s still running. On a good note, I have seen a few does and a couple nice 3 year old bucks. But they are too far out for good pics.
From: Ksgobbler
09-Oct-23
Persimmons are loaded.
From: ksq232
09-Oct-23
We have quite a few persimmons coming up on us and I’m trying to get some more grafted females planted. There’s nothing like persimmons when it comes to tough. Drought doesn’t seem to touch them, once they are established. Knowing my luck, all of the natives coming up are males, but even if so, I’ll grafted them and turn them into females.
From: ksq232
14-Oct-23
EHD rearing its head locally. My dad sent me this pic today off a “foodplot” there isn’t much growing obviously.
From: Kansan
14-Oct-23
Yikes
From: Dale06
14-Oct-23
That’s such a sad picture.
From: sitO
14-Oct-23
Get her tested if you find the corpse, sad indeed
From: Thornton
15-Oct-23
The Flint Hills east of El Dorado look worse than I've ever seen. I took the plane out last week and flew over several ranches and even many of the big ponds are bone dry.
From: Ksgobbler
25-Dec-23
My pond is now full and going out the overflow.
From: sitO
25-Dec-23
This is good! Saw where Howard got over 2", hope it fills up those ponds/watrersheds too.
From: ksq232
27-Dec-23
Getting depressingly close to 600 days without a 2” rain.
From: Ksgobbler
11-Jan-24
Saw pics of water flowing at Caney.
From: ksq232
12-Jan-24
Still in rough shape, but the top level of the soil has retained enough moisture with the freezing/thawing to have made some runoff this past week. Even though we got less than an inch, it put a little water in the ponds for the first time in a long time. Long ways to go yet though. I haven’t heard if the water in the river came up and put off the national disaster relief coming in March a while.
From: ksq232
25-Jan-24
Saturday will make 600 days since our last 2” rain. Forecast continues to be bleak.
From: Ksgobbler
25-Jan-24
Its nasty muddy here and the Neosho is 3/4 full.
From: ksq232
25-Jan-24
It’s really muddy here too, the combination of some 1/2-3/4” rains and frozen subsoil has allowed some water to make it into creeks and ponds. Still long ways to go, but we’ll take anything we can get.
From: KsRancher
05-Feb-24
How is it out your way James? We are a soggy mess here in Pratt/Barber Co. Farm fields standing water in places and have been for a while
From: ksq232
05-Feb-24
Got some much needed water in the river outside of Caney. The rains this winter have not been big, but they’ve been more consistent than we’ve had in along time. We got 1.8” at our farm this weekend.
From: Dale06
05-Feb-24
1.8” this time of year is a great rain.
From: Bwhnt
19-Feb-24
And the wet streak continues here. Just got about a foot of snow last week.
