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Drought expands in Kansas
Only 16 percent of Kansas has enough moisture, the March 29 survey found.
State climatologist Mary Knapp said some counties in far western Kansas haven't seen more than half an inch of rain since last July.
"The other area that really jumped big time is the group that moved from abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and again that area pushed eastward and moved up northward to the Kansas, Nebraska line," Knapp said.
The dry grounds are hurting the condition of winter wheat, which is now rated 35 percent poor. And as the spring planting season approaches, other major crops may suffer.
Even if rainfall returns to normal levels in the coming months, Knapp said, it may not be enough to reverse the situation in some areas.
"Drought tends to feed on drought, so we need a number of systems to come through to change that pattern," she said.
Another concern: High winds, along with the drought, have accelerated grass fires in southwest Kansas.
For more Harvest Public Media stories, visit HarvestPublicMedia.org © Copyright 2012, hppr
(2011-04-07)
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GARDEN CITY, KAN.
(hppr) -
Drought conditions in Kansas are at their worst since 2006, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report.
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Only 16 percent of Kansas has enough moisture, the March 29 survey found.
State climatologist Mary Knapp said some counties in far western Kansas haven't seen more than half an inch of rain since last July.
"The other area that really jumped big time is the group that moved from abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions and again that area pushed eastward and moved up northward to the Kansas, Nebraska line," Knapp said.
The dry grounds are hurting the condition of winter wheat, which is now rated 35 percent poor. And as the spring planting season approaches, other major crops may suffer.
Even if rainfall returns to normal levels in the coming months, Knapp said, it may not be enough to reverse the situation in some areas.
"Drought tends to feed on drought, so we need a number of systems to come through to change that pattern," she said.
Another concern: High winds, along with the drought, have accelerated grass fires in southwest Kansas.
For more Harvest Public Media stories, visit HarvestPublicMedia.org © Copyright 2012, hppr
