Jefferson County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Jefferson County, KS showed no drought. Over 90 days rain is at 130% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 73% (below normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans drier than normal (33% chance of below-normal rain) and the best rain chance this week is 82% on Monday (high 71°). FSA has not added Jefferson County to its 2026 LFP list, and Salina is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 124 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 73% of normal
- Last 60 days 165% of normal
- Last 90 days 130% 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 drier than normal (33% chance of below-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 Isolated Rain Showers, high 66°, low 59°, 18% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Monday Showers And Thunderstorms, high 71°, low 55°, 82% rain, wind 10–20 mph
- Tuesday Chance Rain Showers, high 64°, low 43°, 53% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Wednesday Mostly Sunny, high 59°, low 40°, 3% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 58°, low 39°, 8% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 60°, low 40°, 1% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny, high 63°, low 41°, 20% rain, wind 0–5 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 Jefferson 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
Jefferson 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 Jefferson County
Forecast for the center point of Jefferson County.
- Today Isolated Rain Showers 66° 59° SE 5–15 mph 18% rain
- Mon Showers And Thunderstorms 71° 55° S 10–20 mph 82% rain
- Tue Chance Rain Showers 64° 43° SW 5–15 mph 53% rain
- Wed Mostly Sunny 59° 40° W 0–10 mph 3% rain
- Thu Mostly Sunny 58° 39° NW 0–5 mph 8% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 60° 40° NW 0–5 mph 1% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny 63° 41° W 0–5 mph 20% 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
Jefferson County burning rules: Website
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 3.63 in; same month last year 1.83 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 Jefferson County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Perry Lake weather station (9 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 30 |
Oct 24 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 9 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 214-day growing season |
Apr 3 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 18 |
Nov 2 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 20 |
Topeka Muni Ap weather station (18 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 191-day growing season |
Apr 12 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 27 |
Oct 23 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 8 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 212-day growing season |
Mar 31 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 16 |
Nov 1 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 19 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Perry Lake, Topeka Muni Ap), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Jefferson County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Not on FSA's 2026 LFP county list as of Oct 29, 2026. FSA updates the list as drought changes.
What is the drought level in Jefferson County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Jefferson County was in no drought, and the worst part was no drought on 0% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Salina (124 mi), last report Oct 29, 2026; Exeter (194 mi), last report Oct 27, 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.