MikJournal Monday 07/15/2019...Mid-Month Update

Good Monday morning and welcome to this installment of my Journal. Over the past two weeks, I have certainly dried out here at my place in Valley Station, just outside of the great heat island called Louisville. Others, though, are still posting impressive rain totals, adding to yet another waterlogged year.

I have recorded only 0.02" for the month of July, and that was on the 3rd. No measurable rainfall since then. I'm not alone, though. Covington has only recorded 0.02" for the month so far and even matches my annual total of 35.63".

Here's another stat for the "Have Nots" club that I had to place on a separate line. The Boone county Mesonet has not recorded any measurable precipitation since June 24. That is nearly 3 weeks!

But, then, you have the other side, too much rain.

Jackson has already received nearly 4" for the month. In addition, Paducah has already picked up 3.39" to add to its incredible total of over 47" for the year so far. That is over 20" above their normal precipitation amount by now.

Recently, I reviewed the State of the Climate report and found more records were broken. The period from July 2018 through June 30 2019 was the wettest ever, not just statewide, but nationally.

Here's something that will cool you off. As of July 13, the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center's National Snow Analyses page now displays 0.0% of the area covered by snow. Sure, there is some snow on the higher summits somewhere nationally, but not enough for the percentages. This compares to July 3 of last year when the area covered by snow nationally was also 0.0%.

Yet, it appears that snowfall for many locations was down for the year.

I have nearly finished my annual report of the 10-foot snow club for the snow season ending June 30 for locations east of the Mississippi River. Some 70 locations registered totals of over 120" and includes cities like Marquette MI and Caribou ME.  Be looking for it by the end of the week here in another Journal entry.

Here is your geography bee for this Monday. The mighty Mississippi river. We all know where it ends. But, where does it begin? One would have to travel to Minnesota and visit the Itasca State Park, claimed to be the 2nd oldest state park in the United States behind Niagara Falls. There, you will find a small glacial lake called Lake Itasca. From its humble beginnings at nearly 18 feet wide, the headwaters of the Mississippi River begins its 2,500+ mile journey, eventually ending in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is your personal view of those headwaters....
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/Itasca/headwaters.html

Have a good week everyone.

MS