It’s a Dry Heat

Our monsoonal moisture surge is just about over, and it played out pretty close to expected. Lots of clouds early in the week, ending with stronger thunderstorms and showers toward the end of the event.  Here’s a map of the lightning strikes over the past 48 hours.  That’s a lot of lightning.


Numerous wildfires have undoubtedly started. Time will tell how much of an issue they become.  Smoke was already an issue this morning.  The HRRR model expects this to continue tonight. Here’s its forecast:



But by tomorrow night, the smoke plume should be pointed more into Montana. 





We will cool down a bit for the weekend, but then the heat will return.  However, the moisture is not expected to make a reappearance.  Earlier computer forecasts predicted another moisture surge, but have since backed off of this idea.

The result will be cooler nighttime temperatures. Instead of the balmy 60s we’ve had the past couple of nights, our lows will drop into the 50s and even the 40s for the next few nights. This should be helpful for those trying to bale with a little dew. Monday and Monday night could be cloudy, which would inhibit dew formation Tuesday morning. 

By midweek, high temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90s with lows around 60.  Dew points will be lower next week, so it won’t be as muggy as this past week.  

Rain chances will be very small next week, but not zero.  

The heat is forecast to shift to the central US by the end of next week.  




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