Arizona Fires

Smoke was passing over Kansas Tuesday afternoon from the wildfire that has been burning since May 29th in eastern Arizona. The satellite images here clearly show the fire almost right on the Arizona/New Mexico stateline, and there is concern the fire may spread into western portions of New Mexico.

Upper level winds (30,000 - 50,000 feet) continue to blow from southwest to northeast, carrying more smoke toward Kansas. So it's possible (and maybe even likely) that more smoke will be coming our way before the fire is extinguished. Rain in the short term is not likely, but there should be some changes early next week that may bring some moisture to the southwest US. Hopefully by then, the fire will be under control, but with hot weather and strong winds, it is going to be a long battle.

The wheat harvest has started in Kansas. It sure seems early for it, but just like always, depends on what kind of weather we've been having and with the recent hot spell, it's time to get it before a storm comes through and takes it.

Pattern Changing

It has been remarkably quiet with our storm season this year in Kansas. The downside is that we are not getting in on the much needed rain either. We haven't had any May tornadoes yet in Kansas, which is the slowest May tornado season we've had since 1984. If we make it all the way through the month without any twisters in our state, it will be the first time since 1980 (even before I was born).

Our pattern is changing this week and the rest of May should be fairly active. We already have one system coming at us for later in the week, and yet another one that could impact the area just before Memorial Day weekend. Severe weather is possible with both systems, so the lack of May twisters could be challenged soon. We'll see. Like you, I'd be happy with some serious rainfall (2 or 3 inches worth) and the severe weather can go somewhere else.


I also posted a picture on my Facebook fan page of Millie and I in the recent Goodwill Administrative Professionals Day fundraiser. We did this two years ago and had a good time (I'm not much of a model, but Millie sure is), so we were asked to come back for this go around.

Drought in Pictures

Kansas is not in the right spot for rainfall this year and it doesn't look to get any better soon. Rainfall has been so heavy in southern Missouri, eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and northeast Texas. In the last week, rainfall amounts of 8-10 inches have been quite common across Arkansas and the flooding is historic for some.

The pictures posted here are from Rice county, near Lyons, where dry and windy conditions from last week help pile up dirt in ditches. Even those who have had moisture in central Kansas say it's been rather spotty, and agree, more rain is needed to help fill farm ponds and keep the wheat in business. The lack of moisture is evident in wheat fields that are now producing heads as the plants are so much smaller than normal.

So far this spring, there have only been two days with tornadoes in Kansas. Last year (from March 1st - April 30) there were only two days with tornadoes, but when May 2010 started, the severe season ramped up. There were 8 different days with tornadoes reported in Kansas. Historically, this is the busiest month with severe weather, so we can't let our guard down even though our storm season has been off to a very slow start.