Cowley County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Cowley County, KS was in moderate drought (D1); four weeks earlier 100% of the county was in moderate drought (D1) or worse, now 83%. Rain has run 80% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 54% over 90 days, so the past month has been wetter than the season so far; the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the NWS forecast peaks at a 77% rain chance on Monday (high 73°). Cowley County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 1 monthly payment, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Tulsa, 92 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 80% of normal
- Last 60 days 79% of normal
- Last 90 days 54% 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 Partly Sunny, high 72°, low 62°, 6% rain, wind 7–21 mph
- Monday Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, high 73°, low 54°, 77% rain, wind 9–23 mph
- Tuesday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 67°, low 44°, 22% rain, wind 6–18 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 68°, low 43°, 19% rain, wind 3–9 mph
- Thursday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny, high 64°, low 42°, 16% rain, wind 3–9 mph
- Friday Sunny, high 66°, low 43°, 1% rain, wind 2–6 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 68°, low 44°, 26% rain, wind 2–7 mph
National Weather Service forecast for the county center, updated Nov 1, 2026. Wind, warnings and burn bans.
Open loss windows
No open loss windows in Cowley 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
Cowley 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 Cowley County
Forecast for the center point of Cowley County.
- Today Partly Sunny 72° 62° SSE 7–21 mph 6% rain
- Mon Showers And Thunderstorms Likely 73° 54° S 9–23 mph 77% rain
- Tue Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny 67° 44° WNW 6–18 mph 22% rain
- Wed Sunny 68° 43° W 3–9 mph 19% rain
- Thu Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny 64° 42° NNW 3–9 mph 16% rain
- Fri Sunny 66° 43° N 2–6 mph 1% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny 68° 44° W 2–7 mph 26% 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
Cowley County burning rules: Burn resolution · 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 3.22 in; same month last year 3.54 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
No current perimeter within 100 mi of the county center (83 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 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 Cowley County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Winfield 3ne weather station (7 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 189-day growing season |
Apr 16 1 year in 10 it's after May 1 |
Oct 22 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 7 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 209-day growing season |
Apr 3 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 22 |
Nov 1 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 19 |
Winfield Strother Fld Ap weather station (12 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 197-day growing season |
Apr 11 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 28 |
Oct 27 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 12 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 219-day growing season |
Mar 31 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 17 |
Nov 5 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 21 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Winfield 3ne, Winfield Strother Fld Ap), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Cowley County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Cowley County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 1 monthly payment 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 Cowley County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Cowley County was in moderate drought (D1), and the worst part was moderate drought (D1) on 83% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Cowley 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 Cowley County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Tulsa (92 mi), last report Oct 26, 2026; Pratt (105 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Salina (117 mi), last report Oct 29, 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.