It is August after all, on one should be surprised. Even though most of the area is enjoying a rather wet summer so far, Mother Nature couldn’t forget it was August forever.
And she finally woke up.
As the meteorological community looks at the weather models over the coming days it looks like the southern plains is going to bulls-eyed for nothingness.
Both the GFS computer weather model and the Euro computer weather model are showing a distinct dry spot across the southern plains. Something farmers and ranchers still struggling through a drought do not want to see.
To the right is a look at what the 12z Euro estimates through the end(ish) of August. This was pulled from Ryan Maue’s twitter account.
While this does spell more troubles for most farmers and ranchers, it’s not all bad. Wichita, Kansas – which has received roughly 500-percent of it’s normal August rainfall, already – is finally able to catch its breath. It is under the giant goose egg, as pointed out by Maue. So is most of northern Oklahoma. They are currently well-above their normal rainfall, too.
But outside of those areas, it is still slim-pickens for rain. The Oklahoma panhandle, for example, could still use some help.
While we’re on the topic of drought, the GFS computer weather model is singing the same dry tune as the Euro.
To the left is the GFS computer weather model estimates. The scale is different – instead of inches it is in millimeters, but notice the striking similarities? Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle all dry.
The wettest area under the high pressure bubble is the blue coverage across the Texas panhandle. It shows up to 2.5mm of rain during the next 10 days.
Yippee.
Meanwhile the southeast and the inner-mountain west continue to see rain chances – and likely flooding rainfall.
But, this is a typical August pattern. And while no one should be surprised, it’s okay to be disappointed.
