By Mary Knapp
Temperatures in Kansas were warmer than normal in November. The statewide average temperature was 49.4 degrees F, or 7.3 degrees warmer than normal. This was the 2nd warmest November since 1896. The Southwest Division was closest to normal for the month. The average in that division was 48.9 degrees F, or 6.5 degrees warmer than normal. The greatest departure was in the Northeast Division where the average temperature was 49.7 degrees F, or 8.0 degrees warmer than normal. There were 170 new daily record high temperatures set in the month. Of those, 13 set new record highs for November. Ashland, in Clark County, had the highest reading for the month, with 93 degrees F reported on the first of the month. Despite the record warmth, there were two new record low minimum temperatures set. There were 74 new record warm minimum temperatures set, of which 6 were records for the month. The coldest temperature recorded for the month was 8 degrees F at Oakley 19 SSW, Logan County, on the 20th.
Statewide average rainfall for November continued the trend of the dry fall and was well below normal. The statewide average was 0.42 inches, or 32 percent of normal. The West Central and East Central Divisions vied for lowest percent of normal. The West Central Division had 0.10 inches, or 12 percent of normal; and the East Central division had 0.30 inches, or 13 percent of normal. The North Central Division came closest to normal with an average of 0.73 inches, or 59 percent of normal. This November ranks as the 30th driest in the 122 years of record. The wettest November on record occurred in 1909, when the statewide average total was 4.68 inches. The driest November occurred in 1989 when the statewide average was zero inches. Despite the dry pattern there were 26 new record daily rainfall totals. The greatest 24-hour total recorded at a CoCoRaHS station was 1.58 inches at Seneca 0.5 N, Nemaha County, on the 23rd. The greatest 24-hour report for a National Weather Service station was 0.43 inches at Olathe Johnson Co Exec Ap, Johnson County, on the 2nd. The greatest monthly totals: 2.25 inches at Fostoria 7 NW, Pottawatomie County (NWS) and 1.61 inches at Seneca 9.0 N, Nemaha County (CoCoRaHS).
Severe weather wasn’t as much of a factor as last month, although there was one tornado reported in Riley County, just north of the Manhattan airport. Fortunately there were no deaths or injuries reported with the storm. There were no hail reports and only 4 damaging wind reports in the month.
Above-normal temperatures coupled with below-normal precipitation resulted in expansion of moderate drought in western Kansas, with an area of severe drought in southwest Kansas. As we move into the drier part of the year, even above-normal precipitation is not likely to result in significant improvement. By the same token, the rate of deterioration is likely to slow.
1. Departure from 1981-2010 normal value
2. State Highest temperature: 93 oF at Ashland, Clark County, on the 1st.
3. State Lowest temperature: 8 oF at Oakley 19SSW, Logan County, on the 20th.
4. Greatest 24hr: 1.43 inches at Olathe Johnson Co Exec Ap, on the 2nd (NWS); 1.58 inches at Seneca 0.5 N, Nemaha County, on the 23rd (CoCoRaHS).