Governor Laura Kelly has declared the entire State of Kansas under some sort of drought status. The eastern half of the State is under a Drought Watch. Eight counties in West Central Kansas are under a Drought Warning and 34 Western counties have been placed under a Drought Emergency.
Kelly urges Kansans to be aware of the conditions, which are forecast to get worse in many areas and to work to minimize the threat of fires across the State. Although most of Kansas has experienced high precipitation this past month a record breaking heat wave has been making its way across the area. While most of Eastern Kansas is currently drought free, the forecasted hot and dry conditions will likely lead to the rapid intensification of drought conditions in portions of the Midwest over the next few weeks.
Counties in Emergency Stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes and may be eligible for water in some Federal Reservoirs.
