In 1810, the explorer Zebulon Pike wrote about Kansas, saying: “These vast plains may become in time as celebrated as the sandy deserts of Africa.”
In fact, notes The Lawrence Journal-World, for decades Kansas was part of what was referred to as the Great American Desert. Knowing that Kansas was at one time famed for its aridity makes the present state of affairs even more striking: According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, not a single acre of Kansas soil is currently considered to be in drought. This is only the fourth time this century that the Sunflower State was considered to be entirely drought free.
Larry Ruthi, a meteorologist in Dodge City, said Kansas has been really fortunate this year with rainfall. He noted that, over the past three months, most of Kansas received more than 150 percent of its average rainfall.