Rain Brings Relief To Southwest Kansas

Steady rain over the past few months has dramatically eased the drought in Kansas.

Larry Ruthi, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Dodge City, says that the recent rain in southwest Kansas has lessened the drought considerably.

Less than one-half of 1 percent of Kansas — in the southwest corner — remains in extreme drought, compared to more than 28 percent of the state in late September.

Dodge City has recorded 7.39 inches of rain since Dec. 1, the third-highest total over that stretch since records began more than 100 years ago. Medicine Lodge logged 10.37 inches and Cimarron had 8.44 inches.

About 11 percent of Kansas remains in the three worst drought categories, compared to nearly half of the state last September.