Barber County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Barber County, KS was in moderate drought (D1), with 47% at severe drought (D2); week 13 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Over 90 days rain is at 121% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 139% (above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and today carries the week's highest rain chance at 65% (high 68°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Barber County with up to 3 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Pratt, 29 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 139% of normal
- Last 60 days 166% of normal
- Last 90 days 121% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Rain outlook
- 6-10 day outlook (Nov 7–11) Leans toward near-normal rain
- 8-14 day outlook (Nov 9–15) Leans toward near-normal rain
NOAA Climate Prediction Center precipitation outlook, issued Nov 1, 2026. Source.
Next 7 days
- Today Cloudy, high 68°, low 63°, 65% rain, wind 13–25 mph
- Monday Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 79°, low 51°, 48% rain, wind 9–29 mph
- Tuesday Mostly Sunny, high 64°, low 43°, 9% rain, wind 6–24 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 67°, low 42°, 24% rain, wind 5–8 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 62°, low 40°, 24% rain, wind 5–12 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 63°, low 42°, 3% rain, wind 3–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 67°, low 44°, 19% rain, wind 3–7 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
PRF pasture insurance: sign up by Dec 1, 2026
The 2027 Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF) insurance sales closing date for Barber County is Dec 1, 2026, 30 days from today. PRF (Rainfall Index) pays on a rainfall index for your grid, not on your own rain gauge. You buy it through a crop insurance agent.
How PRF works · PRF 2027 sign-up · Find your grid on RMA's PRF tool
Date from USDA RMA's actuarial data, read Aug 28, 2026 · RMA dates map. Your agent confirms the date for your policy.
Barber County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Barber County grew about 2,782 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 126% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,214 pounds per acre. That was the 1st best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2025 at 2,782 pounds per acre; worst: 2011 at 1,359.
Pounds per acre of new grass and forbs each year on rangeland and pasture, from the Rangeland Analysis Platform (satellite-based estimates). See every year on the Land tab.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Barber County right now. A 30-day window opens when the county first hits severe drought (D2), jumps to D3 or D4, or after a blizzard, extreme heat or cold, flood or ice warning, a wildfire, or a USDA disaster designation. Keep a Drought Ledger.
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Cownty sends nothing to FSA.
Drought-sale tax flag IRS list
Barber County is on IRS Notice 2026-54 (severe or worse drought, Sep 1, 2025 to Aug 31, 2026).
Why it matters: if you sold breeding, dairy or draft livestock because of drought, the tax code may let you put off the gain (more time to buy replacement animals, or report the extra-sale income a year later). Your tax preparer decides whether either applies.
Work out your numbers and print a page for your preparer
Information only; not financial, tax or legal advice. Ask your tax preparer. FSA decides program eligibility. IRS Notice 2026-54 (PDF)
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Weather for Barber County
Forecast for the center point of Barber County.
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Cloudy 68° 63° SSE 13–25 mph 65% rain
- Mon Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 79° 51° S 9–29 mph 48% rain
- Tue Mostly Sunny 64° 43° NW 6–24 mph 9% rain
- Wed Sunny 67° 42° NW 5–8 mph 24% rain
- Thu Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny 62° 40° N 5–12 mph 24% rain
- Fri Sunny 63° 42° NNE 3–5 mph 3% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 67° 44° WNW 3–7 mph 19% rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind arrows point where the wind is going; the letters say where it comes from. Windy = 25 mph or more; freeze = a low of 32°F or less. Open the full forecast.
Burn ban
Barber County burning rules: Burn Resolution
From the county burning information page on the KDHE Flint Hills Smoke Management site (source), as of Nov 1, 2026. That page says it may be incomplete; call the county before burning.
No official ban list to check here, so Cownty shows the National Weather Service fire-weather alerts for the county instead: none right now. State fire-restrictions page.
Weather warnings right now
None right now
National Weather Service active alerts for this county, as of Nov 1, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Rainfall vs normal
How to read this
Bars are the rain that fell each month; the dashed line is a normal month (1991-2020 average). Bars below the line = drier than normal.
County-average precipitation, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. Normal = NCEI's own 1991-2020 average for each month (Sep 2026 normal 2.20 in; same month last year 4.28 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Oct 30, 2026.
Wildfires
No current fire perimeter in the county
Nearest current perimeter: RX BUFFALO WOMAN (Prescribed fire, OK), about 95 mi from the county center; 40 acres, containment not reported, perimeter of Oct 28, 2026.
Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 1, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 1, 2026.
Frost dates
Frost and freeze dates
30-year averages (1991–2020) from the weather stations nearest Barber County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Medicine Lodge weather station (8 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 191-day growing season |
Apr 13 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 29 |
Oct 23 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 10 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 211-day growing season |
Apr 2 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 18 |
Oct 31 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 18 |
Wilmore 16se weather station (21 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 171-day growing season |
Apr 25 1 year in 10 it's after May 7 |
Oct 15 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 29 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 188-day growing season |
Apr 14 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 30 |
Oct 22 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 6 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Medicine Lodge, Wilmore 16se), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Barber County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Barber County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 3 monthly payments for some pasture types. FSA decides each operation's eligibility; apply at your county FSA office by March 1 after the loss year.
What is the drought level in Barber County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Barber County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 47% of the county. 13 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Barber County?
No official statewide list to check: Kansas has no statewide official burn-ban list; county commissions set bans and announce them locally (county emergency management or sheriff).
What sale barns are near Barber County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Pratt (29 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Woodward (66 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Dodge City (81 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026.
Source: USDA AMS Market News reports
What are the upcoming FSA and farm deadlines?
Next: Nov 20, 2026: Apply for NRCS conservation cost-share (EQIP, CSP, ACEP) to be considered for 2027 money; Nov 20, 2026: Micro Farm 2027: last day to buy crop insurance. FSA program dates not posted officially are marked "confirm at source" on the calendar.
Source: official agency pages (see Calendar)
Information only; not financial or legal advice. FSA decides eligibility. Always check the linked official source.