Cherokee County rain, outlook and forecast
The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Cherokee County, KS in severe drought (D2); week 9 in a row with some severe drought (D2) or worse. Over 90 days rain is at 59% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 52% (below normal); the best rain chance this week is 91% on today (high 78°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Cherokee County with up to 3 monthly payments, and Exeter is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 61 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 52% of normal
- Last 60 days 84% of normal
- Last 90 days 59% of normal
NOAA river forecast center rain (radar plus gauges) at the county center, Nov 2, 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 Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms, high 78°, low 61°, 91% rain, wind 15–20 mph
- Tuesday Scattered Rain Showers, high 68°, low 47°, 38% rain, wind 5–16 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 65°, low 44°, 0% rain, wind 3–10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 66°, low 42°, 10% rain, wind 2–6 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 63°, low 41°, 3% rain, wind 2–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 66°, low 42°, 9% rain, wind 2–7 mph
- Sunday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 41°, 15% rain, wind 6–12 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 2, 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 Cherokee County is Dec 1, 2026, 29 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.
Cherokee County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Cherokee County grew about 3,051 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 108% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 2,814 pounds per acre. That was the 10th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2017 at 3,538 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 1,212.
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 Cherokee 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
Cherokee 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 Cherokee County
Forecast for the center point of Cherokee County.
- Today Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms 78° 61° S 15–20 mph 91% rain
- Tue Scattered Rain Showers 68° 47° SW 5–16 mph 38% rain
- Wed Sunny 65° 44° W 3–10 mph 0% rain
- Thu Mostly Sunny 66° 42° W 2–6 mph 10% rain
- Fri Sunny 63° 41° N 2–6 mph 3% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny 66° 42° SW 2–7 mph 9% rain
- Sun Mostly Sunny 61° 41° NW 6–12 mph 15% rain
Forecast from the National Weather Service, updated Nov 2, 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
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 2, 2026 (source). Fetched Nov 2, 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 4.56 in; same month last year 2.60 in). NCEI posts each month around the 8th of the next and may revise recent months. Source: NOAA NCEI Climate at a Glance. Fetched Nov 2, 2026.
Wildfires
No current fire perimeter in the county
No current perimeter within 100 mi of the county center (82 mapped nationally).
Interagency fire outlines. Small or brand-new fires are often not mapped yet; call 911 for a fire you can see. Layer updated Nov 2, 2026. Source: National Interagency Fire Center. Fetched Nov 2, 2026.
Frost dates
Frost and freeze dates
30-year averages (1991–2020) from the weather stations nearest Cherokee County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Columbus weather station (0 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 208-day growing season |
Apr 5 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 22 |
Oct 31 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 18 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 228-day growing season |
Mar 25 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 10 |
Nov 9 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 26 |
Joplin Regional Airport weather station (19 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 200-day growing season |
Apr 9 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 26 |
Oct 27 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 12 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 220-day growing season |
Mar 29 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 16 |
Nov 4 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 21 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Columbus, Joplin Regional Airport), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Cherokee County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Cherokee 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 Cherokee County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Cherokee County was in severe drought (D2), and the worst part was severe drought (D2) on 71% of the county. 9 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Exeter (61 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Siloam Springs (70 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Tulsa (93 mi), last report Oct 26, 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.