Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Possible Across the Central U.S.; Additional Flash Flooding Potential in the Mid-Atlantic

Strong thunderstorms are forecast across parts of the Central Plains and Midwest today with damaging wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rainfall the primary threats. Heavy rain and scattered flash flooding is also possible across the Carolinas into Virginia. Elevated to critical fire weather concerns in the Four Corners region as Extreme Heat Warnings remain in effect across the Desert Southwest. Read More >

It was a very dry July across the Northland. Nearly every place observed below normal rainfall, and in many cases several inches below normal with totals only 25% to 50% of normal! It should come as no surprise that drought conditions have worsened regionwide, with widespread moderate to severe drought and a few pockets of extreme drought. Temperatures were generally a degree or two below average for the month. There were some hot days mixed with average and below average temperature days.

The CPC outlooks for August and the next three months do not suggest a clear trend for temperatures or rainfall. There are equal chances for above, below, or around normal temperatures and precipitation. With that, drought conditions are expected to persist into the foreseeable future even if rainfall trend towards average.