Drought easing rains continue this week

You may not realize it, but we are right in the "dog days of summer", which has more to do with astronomy because of Sirius (the star) rising in the east before the sun comes up. It correlates with hot, muggy summer weather but not this year. Like everything else that has been off in 2020, our weather this week is anything but July-like.

Record rainfall from Dodge City:
It may not be a total representation of southwest Kansas rain, but generous amounts over Dodge City has the July total at 7.00", and in July that is HUGE.

• Another third of an inch will put this month in 3rd or 4th place for wettest Julys on record
• Another 2.13" will tie for wettest (the record is from 1962)

Other notable records to watch:

• Goodland (if another inch falls) could be in the top 10 wettest Julys
• Garden City (if another inch falls) will end up close to top 5 wettest

When will most of the rain arrive?
What we get Tuesday and Wednesday will be more of the scattered (or hit and miss) variety. So it's not likely that everyone will get rain. And these storms are very unlikely to be severe. Flooding is something to watch out for, especially if you end up underneath one of the heavier downpours. Least likely to get rain Tuesday - northwest Kansas. The least likely to get it Wednesday - southwest Kansas.

 Wednesday Future Track:

 

It's looking like Wednesday night and Thursday will have the most widespread coverage of rain and thunder. The upper high pressure system has been removed from the Plains, and we are waiting on some other upper level features coming from the Rockies that will set off the widespread storms. These are not going to be severe, but we will once again be in the threat for some heavier rainfall.
 

This atmosphere is so tropical that when we develop storms in this kind of environment, the rain is torrential and it doesn't take long to get get some hefty amounts. Add to that, the slow moving nature of the storms and it is something that can cause flooding.  What you see below is a forecast for Wednesday - Friday and it still appears much of the state will get another inch (possibly 2 in some spots) by the end of this week.