Rawlins County rain, outlook and forecast
On the Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map, most of Rawlins County, KS showed no drought, though 28% at abnormally dry (D0); 28% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 100% four weeks earlier. Rain has run 55% of normal over the last 30 days (below normal) and 143% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; the NWS forecast peaks at a 68% rain chance on Monday (high 64°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Rawlins County with up to 4 monthly payments, and Sterling is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 126 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 55% of normal
- Last 60 days 219% of normal
- Last 90 days 143% 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 Chance Drizzle, high 65°, low 56°, 59% rain, wind 20–25 mph
- Monday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 64°, low 43°, 68% rain, wind 15–30 mph
- Tuesday Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, high 49°, low 34°, 25% rain, wind 5–30 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 53°, low 34°, 14% rain, wind 5–10 mph
- Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 50°, low 32°, 9% rain, wind 0–10 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 55°, low 36°, 8% rain, wind 0–5 mph
- Saturday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 54°, low 36°, 16% rain, wind 5–10 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 Rawlins 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
Rawlins 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 Rawlins County
Forecast for the center point of Rawlins County.
- Freeze on 1 night
- Windy on 3 days
- Today Chance Drizzle 65° 56° SE 20–25 mph 59% rain
- Mon Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 64° 43° W 15–30 mph 68% rain
- Tue Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny 49° 34° NW 5–30 mph 25% rain
- Wed Sunny 53° 34° NW 5–10 mph 14% rain
- Thu Mostly Sunny 50° 32° NW 0–10 mph 9% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 55° 36° SW 0–5 mph 8% rain
- Sat Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 54° 36° NW 5–10 mph 16% 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
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 1.55 in; same month last year 3.95 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 Rawlins County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Atwood weather station (2 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 157-day growing season |
May 2 1 year in 10 it's after May 14 |
Oct 8 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 25 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 176-day growing season |
Apr 22 1 year in 10 it's after May 4 |
Oct 17 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 1 |
Mc Donald weather station (16 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 160-day growing season |
May 4 1 year in 10 it's after May 17 |
Oct 12 1 year in 10 it's before Sep 28 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 178-day growing season |
Apr 25 1 year in 10 it's after May 8 |
Oct 20 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 5 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Atwood, Mc Donald), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Common questions and nearby counties
Is Rawlins County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Rawlins 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 Rawlins County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Rawlins County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 28% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Rawlins 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 Rawlins County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Sterling (126 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Dodge City (152 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; La Junta Winter (181 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.