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Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Kansas

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across Kansas using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more.

The following state-specific drought impacts were compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center. While these impacts are not exhaustive, they can help provide a clearer picture of drought in Kansas. 

D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Stock pond levels decrease
  • Planting is delayed (particularly for winter wheat)
  • Irrigation/watering demands increase
84.3
of KS
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Wheat and grasses are drought stressed; hay demand increases
  • Fire danger increases
  • Pond levels are low; habitat is poor in migratory flyways
75.0
of KS
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Wheat, corn, soybean, and hay yields are low; crops are severely damaged
  • Burn bans are implemented; firework sales are banned; more grass fires occur
  • Blue-green algae impacts water supply; ponds and streams are dry
65.6
of KS
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Cattle sales are high; emergency grazing is opened; corn and wheat crops fail; pasture conditions are poor
  • Major infestation of locusts occurs; quail and pheasant populations are reduced; trees are stressed
  • Emergency water supplies are needed; river levels are low; municipal water restrictions are implemented
52.4
of KS
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • All crops are severely impacted/not harvested; ground is cracking
  • Wildfires and large dust storms occur
  • All aquatic species and food chains are affected; fish kills occur
36.3
of KS
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Stock pond levels decrease
  • Planting is delayed (particularly for winter wheat)
  • Irrigation/watering demands increase
84.1
of KS
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Wheat and grasses are drought stressed; hay demand increases
  • Fire danger increases
  • Pond levels are low; habitat is poor in migratory flyways
74.6
of KS
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Wheat, corn, soybean, and hay yields are low; crops are severely damaged
  • Burn bans are implemented; firework sales are banned; more grass fires occur
  • Blue-green algae impacts water supply; ponds and streams are dry
65.1
of KS
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Cattle sales are high; emergency grazing is opened; corn and wheat crops fail; pasture conditions are poor
  • Major infestation of locusts occurs; quail and pheasant populations are reduced; trees are stressed
  • Emergency water supplies are needed; river levels are low; municipal water restrictions are implemented
52.4
of KS
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • All crops are severely impacted/not harvested; ground is cracking
  • Wildfires and large dust storms occur
  • All aquatic species and food chains are affected; fish kills occur
36.3
of KS
(D4)
D0 - Abnormally Dry
  • Stock pond levels decrease
  • Planting is delayed (particularly for winter wheat)
  • Irrigation/watering demands increase
86.8
of KS
(D0–D4)
D1 - Moderate Drought
  • Wheat and grasses are drought stressed; hay demand increases
  • Fire danger increases
  • Pond levels are low; habitat is poor in migratory flyways
74.5
of KS
(D1–D4)
D2 - Severe Drought
  • Wheat, corn, soybean, and hay yields are low; crops are severely damaged
  • Burn bans are implemented; firework sales are banned; more grass fires occur
  • Blue-green algae impacts water supply; ponds and streams are dry
66.7
of KS
(D2–D4)
D3 - Extreme Drought
  • Cattle sales are high; emergency grazing is opened; corn and wheat crops fail; pasture conditions are poor
  • Major infestation of locusts occurs; quail and pheasant populations are reduced; trees are stressed
  • Emergency water supplies are needed; river levels are low; municipal water restrictions are implemented
53.2
of KS
(D3–D4)
D4 - Exceptional Drought
  • All crops are severely impacted/not harvested; ground is cracking
  • Wildfires and large dust storms occur
  • All aquatic species and food chains are affected; fish kills occur
35.4
of KS
(D4)
1,286,771
people in Kansas are affected by drought
87
counties with USDA disaster designations
25th
wettest January was in 2023, over the past 129 years
25th
wettest year to date was in 2023, over the past 129 years

Explore Drought Conditions by City and County

Summary

View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and county level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps.

View Conditions by City:
View Conditions by County:

Drought in Kansas from 2000–Present

The U.S. Drought Monitor started in 2000. Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1-D4) in Kansas lasted 248 weeks beginning on November 9, 2010, and ending on August 4, 2015. The most intense period of drought occurred the week of August 21, 2012, where D4 affected 66.93% of Kansas land.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (2000–present) depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. Every Thursday, authors from NOAA, USDA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center produce a new map based on their assessments of the best available data and input from local observers. The map uses five categories: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4). Learn more.

Time Period (Years): to

Drought Resources for Kansas

Stay Informed: Local Drought Updates

Drought Alert Emails
Get email updates when U.S. Drought Monitor conditions change for your location or a new drought outlook is released.

Southern Plains Drought Status Updates
NIDIS & its partners issue regional updates covering drought conditions, outlooks/forecasts, and local impacts.

Southern Plains Drought Email List
Get regional drought status updates right to your inbox, as well as drought news, webinars, and other events for the Southern Plains.

Get Involved: Submit Local Drought Impacts

Drought in your area? Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.