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FOREWORD The Western Kansas Weather Modification Program (WKWMP) recently completed its 23rd consecutive operational season. Most notable this year was the growth in our target area, increasing by nearly 57% from 1996, requiring another radar system and three more planes to be added to the program in order to run it effectively. The WKWMP gained 4,115 square miles by expanding operations into Northwest Kansas to encompass the area comprising Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District #4. Another rectangular- shaped 310 square mile area in southeastern Yuma County (Colorado), which bordered the WKWMP in Northwest Kansas, was added to the primary target area (full participation) after county commissioners agreed to become the sponsor of a "demonstration program" there. This allowed WKWMP aircraft to fly wherever needed inside Yuma County to accomplish our seeding objectives for storms entering the Yuma County demonstration area and Northwest Kansas. Total WKWMP target area size in 1997 was 15,951 square miles, or 10,208,640 acres. Inside Kansas it was 15,651 square miles and in Colorado 310 square miles. In Southwest Kansas ground was lost in 1997. Two supportive incumbent commissioners in Stevens County were replaced during last year's elections. Despite strong suggestions of a beneficial seeding effect, Stevens opted out of participation just before the program started. This, after Stevens had re-joined the WKWMP for its first year of participation since 1980. Hail damage was expected to be lower in 1997 than last year ,due to the near-impossibility of having a second similar extreme, off-the-scale type of storm year like 1996. Seasonal crop-hail insurance claims were above the WKWMP -long-term average, however, there were signs we were better able to effectively reduce hail in many more severe storms than prior years, even in much larger ones. Rainfall began dry, much like 1996. Sporadic storms eventually became more widespread near Memorial Day in late May. The increased storm activity continued until early July. Thereafter, it became more sporadic and drier again. In early August a heavy 2-day rain event occurred in Western Kansas then followed by sporadic rains again through most of the rest of the season. Overall, 1997 summer rainfall was above normal over most of the reg{on. Some rainfall stimulation hygroscopic flares obtained encouraging enough to warrant was attempted using the experimental in 1996. Results were mixed but using them more often next season. This report presents a variety of background and operational activity information for the 1997 cloud seeding season conducted by the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program. It updates some previous summaries relating to hail damage and corrects any errors found in previous reports.