What the Professionals Are Sayin'

It's about that time to look at what's going on with regards to drought, floods, heat, severe storms, and so on....

JUST RELEASED...from the Climate Prediction Center. The initial July forecast is out.

...and

As you can tell by the precipitation outlook for Texas, more dry conditions are expected. I thought this was an amazing map of the drought conditions...nearly 98% of the state experiencing some type of drought. And look at the percentage of the state suffering from extreme drought conditions!



In contrast, check out drought-free California...



By Friday, storms will begin to increase in coverage and intensity around here. Here's the latest from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center...for the next couple of days

...and the Storm Prediction Center for the next couple of days...

NEWS FLASH...how could we forget this??? Las Vegas finally broke the 100 degree mark on June 14. This marks the 4th latest 100-degree reading on record. Yesterday's high (on the 15th) was 107. Expected high temperature today right around 100. More on their trip to the century mark, click here.

LA NINA FINAL ADVISORY...It's hard to believe but the la nina conditions that have helped plague our weather patterns have now begun to transition to ENSO-neutral. Click here for the final advisory.

COMFORTABLE DEWPOINT READINGS...
For the most part, dewpoint readings across the state aren't too bad today. That will begin to change however by this weekend.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH...
We know lightning is not a criterion for severe weather; however, I find it most odd when I see weather products from the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center that include segments related to tornadoes, flooding, severe thunderstorms (for wind and hail criteria), even fire weather products, drought, heat, winter, and hot air balloon forecasts, yes, hot air balloon forecasts.

OK, the other products besides hot air balloon forecasts are good for people who own property, trees, livestock, and crops. Also, personal safety and health are indeed a necessity, especially if ones will be working or playing outdoors.

Which now brings me to this thing called lightning. There are numerous write-ups, statistics, even safety awareness programs about it. Lightning poses health risks, potential damage to homes, power infrastructures, forests, and yes, livestock. Yet, there are no segments or products issued by the NWS or SPC specifically for lightning.

I'm not trying to say that lightning should be considered as an addendum to severe weather criteria, only that lightning should be given its own separate product as floods, droughts, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, etc...all have their own products.

MS