How much rain has Wichita seen so far in June? See latest totals after flooding
While Wichita is still under drought watering restrictions due to Cheney Reservoir’s water levels, the city has been removed from official drought status due to the recent rainfall in south-central Kansas.
Not including the rain that fell June 12, the Wichita area has reported 4.49 inches of rain for the month at Eisenhower National Airport. For other parts of Wichita, rainfall totals vary.
“The west side of Wichita, where the airport is at ... didn’t get as much rain as the east side did a week ago or so when we had that heavy rain,” Robb Lawson, forecaster with the National Weather Service, said Thursday. “So they’re probably gonna be closer to somewhere close to six to seven inches for the month of June.”
Heavy rain fell across the city June 3, leading to flash flooding that in some places left stranded cars and flooded streets and basements. The official measurement at Eisenhower National Airport that day was 2.94 inches, while Beech Factory Airport saw 6.21 inches.
Sedgwick County has asked residents to report their flood damage through a state survey, and some may qualify for low-interest loans to cover repairs, depending on their damage.
“The State of Kansas created this dedicated reporting form to help Sedgwick and Butler Counties track the location and extent of storm damage and the resources needed to recover,” the county’s June 10 news release reads.
As of June 12, the city is sitting at 2.5 inches above average rainfall for the year, according to Lawson.
“A lot of that is because of the last two weeks,” he said.
On a brighter note, the forecaster said drier conditions are expected to move into the city, with rain chances mostly during the evening and night hours this weekend.
“We should start getting a drier pattern,” Lawson said. “We’re gonna have some chances overnight, like Saturday night, but those chances are pretty small right now.”
June, which has been cooler than usual, is also expected to start seeing warmer temperatures.
“We’ve had a cooler June where the average temperature, so far, [has been] about three degrees below [the normal] average temperature,” Lawson said. “We did hit 100 last year, [two] times in June. And we haven’t had anything close to that now.”
What’s the status of Wichita’s drought?
While the U.S. Drought Monitor has removed Wichita from drought distinction, Cheney Reservoir is sitting 3.96 feet below normal — 76.92% full. The lake was 62% full when the city first entered phase two of drought restrictions in August 2024.
The city of Wichita has previously said the watering restrictions are expected to continue for the foreseeable future, with some officials considering permanent watering restrictions. Currently, Wichita water customers can only water their lawn once a week.
Lawson said the northern part of the state is the only area is still experiencing drought conditions in Kansas.
“They have a moderate drought,” he said.
Here’s a look at the weather for the next several days, from the National Weather Service’s official forecast:
- Friday: Cloudy, then mostly sunny with a high near 86 degrees and a low of 68.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high near 88 and a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, with a low around 68.
- Sunday: A chance of showers with a high around 88 and a low around 69.
- Monday: Mostly sunny with a high around 90 and a low near 73.
- Tuesday: Sunny during the day with a high of 95 and a chance of showers in the evening with a low around 74.
