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<br />V. RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION <br /> <br />On the pages immediately follo~ing this discussion in Figures ~o <br />through #13 are found: (1) the monthly expected average rainfall <br />distribution over western and central Kansas for each of the si~< <br />montt1ly periods April through September, (2) the long-term combined <br />averages for the 5 and 6 month periods April through August and April <br />through September (long-term averages are for the 30-year period 1941 <br />- 1970, prior to the start of clolAd seeding in both Kansas and <br />nor't.hwesle'"'n Oklahoma), (:3) TI-I\~ National "'-leather' Se\~vice official 1'.3:36 <br />~ monthly rainfall data for April through August, (4) the rainfall <br />observations from the WKWM rainfall observer network, and (5) rainfall <br />comparisons from the April through August period of 1986 to the <br />lOflg--term average based upon the rainfall observer network. <br /> <br />It is seen in Figures #8 and #9 that the long-term average <br />rainfall quickly reaches a peak in May, decreases slowly during June <br />thel" corltinues to decrease steadily thereafter through the rest of the <br />'5lHllmeY' tnt.o ~=;~=pt.embe-\"'. Monthly" t.t-n?y'e is gener8.11y bet\l.leen o\'1e-half <br />to one inch less rainfall in the western parts of the target area than <br />there is in the eastern part. Rainfall generally increases the <br />further east one goes in the state. <br /> <br />It is when the six sepal.ate long-term monthly rainfall averages <br />are combined (April - September) that the summertime precipitation <br />disparity is most evident. On average, there is about three inches to <br />three and one-half inches. less rainfall in the southwestern corner of <br />the ~arget area than in the eastern sections. These figures clearly <br />illustrate the importance of the continuance of rainfall augmentation <br />in southwestern and weslern Kansas as a means.of increasing rai.nfall. <br /> <br />Figure #10 shows the "official" version of the rainfall <br />distribution for the April through August period of 1986. These data <br />are collected at official reportil1g stations for the Nationa Weather <br />Service branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration <br />(NOAA). As shown} they use three categories for detel"mining <br />moisture status: dry, near normal, and wet. April and May showed that <br />our target area was considered near normal to dry, however, if one <br />compares the actual rainfall recorded to the long-term averages, the <br />region was definitely below normal for that two month period. June} <br />July and August turned out to be mostly near normal to wet. over much <br />of the target area except for portions of the central and northeast.. <br /> <br />Through the WKGMD #1, the WKWM program has assumed the <br />responsibility of compiling the mont~ly precipitation logs <br />rainfall entries recorded by the volunteer network of over <br />rainfall observers across western and southwestern Kansas. <br />records were formerly obtained by the Kansas Water Office. <br /> <br />f I'om de. i 1 Y <br />100 <br />These <br /> <br />The rainfall pattern of 1986 reveals that the April/May period of <br />the WKWM project was a continuation of the dry, rainless trend that <br />preceded these months (See Figure ~11). Subsequently, beginning in <br />late May and early June the r~inf~ll patt~rn changed to one of <br />relatively abundant low level moisture that persisted almost <br />cont.i nt,.fot,IS I}' t.hr()ugh tt-..e l"ernai nder of the season. .ResLII t i ll';J f '"'om t.he <br /> <br />?n <br />