Stevens County rain, outlook and forecast
As of the Oct 27 Drought Monitor, most of Stevens County, KS was abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is in moderate drought (D1) or worse, down from 91% four weeks earlier. Over 90 days rain is at 179% of normal, and the last 30 days came in at 187% (well above normal); the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain and the NWS forecast peaks at a 62% rain chance on today (high 73°). FSA's 2026 LFP list includes Stevens County (county seat: Hugoton) with up to 4 monthly payments, and Beaver is the closest USDA-reported sale barn at 51 miles.
Rain vs normal
- Last 30 days 187% of normal
- Last 60 days 229% of normal
- Last 90 days 179% 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 Slight Chance Rain Showers, high 73°, low 43°, 62% rain, wind 16–25 mph
- Tuesday Sunny, high 58°, low 37°, 1% rain, wind 7–24 mph
- Wednesday Sunny, high 64°, low 40°, 21% rain, wind 7–10 mph
- Thursday Sunny, high 58°, low 34°, 8% rain, wind 5–14 mph
- Friday Mostly Sunny, high 61°, low 38°, 3% rain, wind 5–6 mph
- Saturday Sunny, high 62°, low 37°, 9% rain, wind 6–10 mph
- Sunday Sunny, high 61°, low 37°, 5% 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 Stevens 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.
Stevens County grass production
In 2025, grassland and pasture in Stevens County grew about 1,877 pounds per acre of grass and forbs, 123% of the county's 1991-2020 normal of 1,522 pounds per acre. That was the 8th best of 40 years on record (1986-2025). Best year: 2015 at 2,155 pounds per acre; worst: 1986 at 739.
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 Stevens 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
Stevens 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 Stevens County
Forecast for the center point of Stevens County.
- Windy on 1 day
- Today Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers 73° 43° WSW 16–25 mph 62% rain
- Tue Sunny 58° 37° NW 7–24 mph 1% rain
- Wed Sunny 64° 40° SSW 7–10 mph 21% rain
- Thu Sunny 58° 34° N 5–14 mph 8% rain
- Fri Mostly Sunny 61° 38° SSW 5–6 mph 3% rain
- Sat Sunny 62° 37° NNW 6–10 mph 9% rain
- Sun Sunny 61° 37° NW 5–10 mph 5% 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
Stevens County burning rules: Burn Resolution
From the county burning information page on the KDHE Flint Hills Smoke Management site (source), as of Nov 2, 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 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 1.46 in; same month last year 2.49 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 Stevens County. Frost = 32°F; hard freeze = 28°F.
Hugoton weather station (3 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 183-day growing season |
Apr 20 1 year in 10 it's after May 2 |
Oct 22 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 7 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 202-day growing season |
Apr 9 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 24 |
Oct 30 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 16 |
Hooker weather station (24 mi away)
| Typical last spring frost | Typical first fall frost | |
|---|---|---|
| Frost (32°F) 192-day growing season |
Apr 16 1 year in 10 it's after May 1 |
Oct 25 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 13 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) 211-day growing season |
Apr 5 1 year in 10 it's after Apr 22 |
Nov 3 1 year in 10 it's before Oct 21 |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (Hugoton, Hooker), NOAA files as of Jun 27, 2023. Fetched Oct 18, 2026.
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Printable county brief (PDF) · Everything on one page · Hay prices in Kansas · County seat: Hugoton
Common questions and nearby counties
Is Stevens County eligible for LFP in 2026?
Yes. Stevens 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 Stevens County this week?
On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Stevens County was in abnormally dry (D0), and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on 100% of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.
Is there a burn ban in Stevens 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 Stevens County?
The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Beaver (51 mi), last report Oct 27, 2026; Dodge City (82 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Dalhart (106 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.