The Fifth Annual Summary of the Population of the More Important Insects in Kansas, Covering the Year 1935

Abstract

January opened with milder weather than usual, and was about normal in precipitation and sunshine. Mild temperatures prevailed during February until the cold wave on the 24th, which brought high winds and dust storms. Drought conditions became severe, especially in the western half of the state favoring dust storms. March was unusually mild, dry and dusty. The worst dust storm ever reported for the state occurred on the 20th. The air was so full of dust over the entire state that the use of headlights was necessary in auto travel, and street lights were turned on. The dust was said to extend to 16,000 feet in height, and visibility at the worst was less than one city block in the eastern half of the state and practically zero in the western third. Vegetation made little growth in the western half of the state because of the acute shortage of moisture. April was unusually cool and dry, both conditions being near a record. The month was deficient in sunshine and the drought in all counties except the extreme eastern and southeastern became acute. Severe dust storms were frequent, especially in the western half of the state. May opened with crops in serious need of moisture, but heavy rains occurred on the 9th to the 11th and continued throughout May to near the end of June. May was the third wettest on record, and also one of the chilliest. June was unusually cool and wet. Serious floods occurred throughout the state, but especially in the valleys of the Republican, Neosho, Marais des Cygnes, Saline, Blue, and Kansas rivers. Manhattan experienced the second worst flood of its history on June 7, due to heavy rains in southern Nebraska, western Colorado, and northwestern Kansas. July was the driest and third hottest during the 49 years for which records have been kept in the state. The month was exceptionally sunshiny, proving detrimental to crops. The lack of rainfall was offset somewhat by the large amount of moisture in the soil.