Major drought - July heat wave expanding

Welcome to Friday and thanks for stopping by the blog. I'm back from a quick trip through the northern Plains (the Dakotas and into Montana) and for the first time ever, a chance to visit Canada. It was a great trip, but the weather was less than desirable. Temperatures were getting into the mid 90s and there is a severe drought underway across North Dakota and eastern Montana. Just look at the latest drought monitor released yesterday (Thursday). People up there are praying for rain. This is usually an active time of year as the jet stream moves back to the north, but so far, most of the rains have been few and far between.

Here are a few of my pictures from the Badlands. Despite the dry conditions, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is still quite beautiful.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Badlands - North Dakota

Medora, ND

Alright, so last week I blogged about a changing weather pattern that would bring some hotter weather after the 4th. The pattern is exactly what you would expect in July, as high pressure takes over, our storm chances diminish. Any rain we might get this weekend won't amount to very much.

Next week will be one of the longest stretches of hot weather we've had, and I think there will be several days in a row with some 100s in our state. 

How long will this last?

I'm expecting some brief heat relief next weekend (14-16th) where temperatures may drop a little. I don't think it will be anything big, but highs may slip back to the upper 80s for a day or two.

Week of July 17 -

This particular week looks a little more interesting with a chance for some rain and cooler weather. The high pressure (heat dome) could break down for awhile, allowing for some changes during the later part of July.

Have a nice weekend. Millie will be keeping cool & probably getting another haircut.