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Thomas County, KS

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Thomas County rain, outlook and forecast

The Oct 27 U.S. Drought Monitor map shows most of Thomas County, KS with no drought, though a sliver (<1%) at abnormally dry (D0); 0% of the county is abnormally dry (D0) or worse, down from 21% four weeks earlier. Thomas County has had 50% of its normal rain in the past 30 days and 191% over 90 days, so the past month has been drier than the season so far; today carries the week's highest rain chance at 64% (high 65°) and the 6-10 day outlook for Nov 7–11 leans toward near-normal rain. Thomas County is on FSA's 2026 LFP list with up to 1 monthly payment, and the nearest USDA-reported sale barn is Dodge City, 126 miles away.

Rain vs normal

  • Last 30 days 50% of normal
  • Last 60 days 297% of normal
  • Last 90 days 191% 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

  1. Today Chance Drizzle, high 65°, low 55°, 64% rain, wind 20–25 mph
  2. Monday Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, high 64°, low 42°, 58% rain, wind 15–30 mph
  3. Tuesday Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny, high 49°, low 34°, 20% rain, wind 5–30 mph
  4. Wednesday Sunny, high 53°, low 34°, 18% rain, wind 5–10 mph
  5. Thursday Mostly Sunny, high 50°, low 32°, 14% rain, wind 0–10 mph
  6. Friday Mostly Sunny, high 54°, low 36°, 6% rain, wind 5 mph
  7. 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 Thomas 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

Thomas 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)

All deadlines and report dates · FSA disaster-program deadlines are pending (no official feed).

Coming up: EQIP and CSP FY2027 first ranking cutoff (19 days left) · PRF rainfall insurance for 2027 (30 days left) · ARC/PLC 2026 election and enrollment (40 days left) · LFP, LIP and ELAP for 2026 losses (120 days left)

Nearest USDA-reported sale barns

  1. Winter Livestock Dodge City, KS 126 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  2. Sterling Livestock Commission Sterling, CO 142 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  3. Winter Livestock (Tuesday) La Junta, CO 162 mi · sells Tuesdays · latest USDA report Oct 27, 2026
  4. La Junta Livestock Commission La Junta, CO 169 mi · sells Wednesdays · latest USDA report Oct 28, 2026
  5. Winter Livestock (Pratt Livestock) Pratt, KS 176 mi · sells Thursdays · latest USDA report Oct 29, 2026

Miles are straight-line from the county center. Sale days come from the barns' recent USDA AMS reports; call the barn to confirm. All barns

Other barns nearby (not USDA-reported)

These barns are not in a USDA AMS report, so Cownty shows no prices for them. Sale days and phones come from the barns' own sites or public listings; call the barn to confirm. More barns

Common questions and nearby counties

Is Thomas County eligible for LFP in 2026?

Yes. Thomas 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.

Source: FSA LFP county file of Oct 29, 2026

What is the drought level in Thomas County this week?

On the Drought Monitor map of Oct 27, 2026, most of Thomas County was in no drought, and the worst part was abnormally dry (D0) on a sliver (<1%) of the county. 0 straight weeks with some severe drought (D2) or worse.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, map of Oct 27, 2026

Is there a burn ban in Thomas 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 Thomas County?

The nearest USDA-reported sale barns: Dodge City (126 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; Sterling (142 mi), last report Oct 28, 2026; La Junta Winter (162 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.