Are we headed for drier days & what's that in the southwest?

Hope everyone has a great weekend a chance to enjoy some sunshine if you've been missing it the last 3 days. The slushy snow, cold grey skies start to get old after awhile, but we are fortunate to have the precipitation. My guess is that there are several areas in southwest Kansas that would like to have some of what we've had farther east.

Look at this map - it takes into account melted snow and rain that we've had lately. It shows the departure from normal. So much of central and eastern Kansas is doing pretty good, especially by January standards. The areas in dark green and light blue are above average for January.

Are we moving into a drier pattern?
It is starting to look that way, or at least certainly not as wet as some areas have been the last few weeks. There are some storms coming out of the west during our final week in January. However, in recent days it is looking like most of the moisture will slide to our south. The map below shows rainfall for the next 8 days and I'm expect most of it will end up in Texas or Oklahoma. Southwest Kansas may get some beneficial moisture Monday night/early Tuesday, but it won't end the drought.

At the beginning of February, I think we will see a decent ridge of high pressure setting up across the southwest. This will be significant for Kansas because it will end the parade of storms that have been coming from the west. And it may also lead to a period of warmer days (before it turns cold again)

What's in the sky this weekend?

Check it out... if you look to the southwest sky, you should be able to spot Venus, and Mercury will be lower in the sky. But those will be your two planets to seek out over the weekend.