Norton County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Norton County, KS showed no drought, though 44% at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 44% four weeks earlier. Norton County has had 74% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 181% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier 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 75% rain chance on today (high 71°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Norton County with up to 4 monthly payments, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Lexington, 69 miles away.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 74% of normal
- Last 60 days 233% of normal
- Last 90 days 181% 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 Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 71°, low 44°, 75% rain, wind 15–25 mph
- Tuesday Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, high 50°, low 36°, 41% rain, wind 10–25 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 55°, low 36°, 5% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 52°, low 32°, 6% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 57°, low 36°, 2% rain, wind 5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 57°, low 36°, 15% rain, wind 5–15 mph
- Sunday Sunny, high 56°, low 35°, 7% rain, wind 5–10 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 Norton 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.
Norton County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Norton County grew about 2,100 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 106% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,980 pounds per acre. That was the 16th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2016 at 2,342 pounds per acre; worst: 2002 at 1,012.
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 Norton 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
Norton 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 Norton County
Forecast for the center point of Norton County.
- Freeze on 1 night
- Windy on 2 days
- Today Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 71° 44° W 15–25 mph 75% rain
- Tue Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny 50° 36° NW 10–25 mph 41% rain
- Wed Sunny 55° 36° NW 5–10 mph 5% rain
- Thu Mostly Sunny 52° 32° NW 5–10 mph 6% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 57° 36° SW 5 mph 2% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 57° 36° NW 5–15 mph 15% rain
- Sun Sunny 56° 35° NW 5–10 mph 7% 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 1.92 in; same month last year 2.37 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 Norton County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Norton Dam weather station (3 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 162-day growing season |
May 1 1 year in 10 it's after May 15 |
Oct 12 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 29 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 181-day growing season |
Apr 21 1 year in 10 it's after May 3 |
Oct 21 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 6 |
Norton 9sse weather station (4 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 173-day growing season |
Apr 27 1 year in 10 it's after May 11 |
Oct 17 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 1 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 192-day growing season |
Apr 15 1 year in 10 it's after May 1 |
Oct 25 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 11 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Norton Dam, Norton 9sse), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Norton County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Norton County is on FSA's 2026 Livestock Forage Disaster Program county list, with up to 4 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 Norton County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Norton County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 44% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Norton 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 Norton County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Lexington (69 mi), last report Oct 30, 2026; Kearney (77 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; North Platte (103 mi), last report Oct 20, 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.