Kansas is drying out - will this trend change?

Most of us had some bonus rains earlier this spring, but in the last 45 days, we have certainly started to see a different trend. Almost everyone in Kansas had a surplus on rains in during the month of April:

• Wichita (+4.69")
• Salina (+0.60")
• Dodge City (+5.84")
• Goodland (+0.53")

May rainfall (compared to normal):

• Wichita (-0.13")
• Salina (-0.88")
• Dodge City (+1.77")
• Goodland (+4.71")

June rainfall (compared to normal):

• Wichita (-0.62")
• Salina (-2.42")
• Dodge City (-0.12")
• Goodland (+1.19")

So far in July, nearly everyone has had less than .50", except Dodge City where 1.63" has fallen. The corn is getting ready to pollinate and it's crucial for the temperatures to stay down (including at night), but it just doesn't look like that will happen. 

July look at this map from the last 7 days:

Rainfall has been spotty, but the places that struggle the most getting rain sometimes have had some luck.

Let's look at what happens at the end of this week:

The heat dome pushes back to the west, which may allow for some scattered storms to develop Thursday evening AND maybe into Friday along a slow moving front. It's tough to get overly excited about the rain chances because they will be so hit and miss. But they could be our only chances this week.

But next week (July 17-20), the huge high pressure heat cooker moves right back over the top of Kansas. So the heat will be coming back.

Where things will start getting interesting once again will be at the end of next week (around July 22nd) The models "hint" at some leftover tropical moisture that might make it into the Plains, but that's so far down the road that we just don't even know if that's possible yet. 

Long, hot week - Slight storm chances

This is the part of summer that can be rough on some of us. Temperatures will climb to near 100 and it puts quite the strain on anyone working outside during the afternoon. Air conditioners only seem to turn off for a minute or two at a time, and without much rain, some of you will be watering like crazy to keep up with the heat.

Rain chances are very slim this week, but the first possible chance comes for the NW Tuesday evening. You'll be able to count on one hand how many storms pop up.

Tuesday Evening

Chances look a little better for the NW Wednesday evening. They will still be scattered, but a few areas will get cooled off with an early evening storm that might dump a quick, heavy downpour.

Wednesday evening

We should end up with less heat later in the week. I'll focus on that tomorrow and we will look at some rainfall numbers and see where we stand moving into the middle of July. In the meantime, take it easy and do your best to keep cool.

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.