WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Wichita is out of drought, and a quarter of the state is now clear of any signs of drought. This change has come over the last couple of weeks.
This is the first time since February that Wichita has not been highlighted on the drought monitor map. It shows big improvements this week after dry conditions in September and October. ‘
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KSN Graphic -
KSN Graphic -
KSN Graphic
Unseasonable amounts of rain are making the difference.
“The kind of change that we saw these last couple of weeks, it doesn’t happen that often,” said Richard Tinker, National Weather Service meteorologist and drought expert.
At the end of October, more than a third of the state was in severe drought. Now, it’s down to only 3%, said Richard Tinker, the meteorologist who put together the most recent drought monitor.
“This amount of precipitation that we’ve gotten is pretty unusual, for several inches in some cases approaching 7, 8, 9 inches of rain here,” said Tinker.
Given the amount of rain this November, it is normally a relatively dry time of year.