A slow-moving storm system brought several inches of rain to some areas of central and western Kansas on Monday.



In Hutchinson, rainfall reported in a 24-hour period came in at 3.05 inches. Observers with the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, a grassroots volunteer network of backyard weather observers working in partnership with the National Weather Service, reported at least an inch of rainfall across Reno County.



�The rain wasn�t super heavy, but it lasted and a different type of a rain than what we are used to,� said Jerilyn Billings Wright, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service�s Wichita office.



Billings Wright said the largest amounts of rain were in Barton, Ellsworth, McPherson and Rice counties, with 5 inches of rain near Geneseo and Lindsborg, 4.55 inches near Lyons and 4.35 inches near Great Bend. She also said most of central Kansas was in a flood warning Tuesday morning, and more rainfall is in the forecast.



�This was a big rain producer for central Kansas, but it was rain we needed,� said Billings Wright. �A concern is that the ground is saturated, but the rain we get tomorrow could exacerbate the situation.�



A storm system is expected to develop in eastern Colorado and northwest Kansas and reach Reno County by the overnight/early-morning hours and continue on to southeast Kansas on Thursday morning. But Billings Wright said the primary threat from this system looks to be high winds rather than rain.



Larry Ruthi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Dodge City, said Monday�s rainfall was pretty widespread across western Kansas, which has been helpful for the drought-ridden area.



�We�ve certainly had improvement, but we�re still 3.75 inches below average,� he said.



Ruthi said Ellis County saw the most rainfall for the area, reporting 2 to 4 inches, followed by area of northern Stafford County that reported 3 to 3.5 inches.



Ruthi did say, however, that some pockets in western Kansas still need rain. Elkhart, for instance, is still 50 to 75 percent below average for precipitation.



Ruthi also said temperatures have been below average, precipitation levels have been above average, and the area has been able to stay fairly moist. He does not anticipate a hot/dry period for several weeks.



�I�m certainly happy to see this in June,� he said. �This has been a really welcome change. The cool temperatures have allowed the rain to be more beneficial agriculturally.�