National Weather Headlines For Saturday July 21st

National Light Show

Thunderstorms across parts of the nation have created quite a light show, take a look at some of the spectacular images below.

(Photo Below Courtesy: photographer Michael Kitchen via Bowling Green Hot Rods FB page)

(Photo Below Courtesy: John W. Fitzwater from Somerset, KY)

(Photo Below Courtesy: Christina Karnitz from Clarksville, TN)

(Photo Below Courtesy: Chad Whitlock from Putney, VT)

Updated MN Drought Conditions

Every Thursday the U.S. Drought Monitor releases their newest drought map... July 19th revealed that 62% of the state was abnormally dry including parts of the west metro. Nearly 15% more of the state is considered to be abnormally dry than last week and now even SEVERE DROUGHT conditions are showing up in far northwestern and far southwestern Minnesota.

"As of July 17, the U.S. Drought Monitor places some northwest Minnesota counties, along with Rock County in southwest Minnesota, in the Severe Drought category (map at right). Much of the rest of northwest Minnesota, southwest Minnesota, and far southeast Minnesota is described as undergoing Moderate Drought. Large areas of west central and central Minnesota are categorized as Abnormally Dry.

Topsoil moisture across 53 percent of Minnesota's landscape is said to be Short or Very Short. The state's corn is now pollinating. Water stress during this critical period of the corn growing season inhibits corn yield potential.

Stream flow measurements at reporting stations in the driest areas of the state rank at or below the 10th percentile when compared with historical data for the date.

The drought situation in northwest Minnesota is the result of a dry autumn, a snow-sparse winter, and a dry growing season (maps below). The moisture deficits in southern Minnesota developed rapidly due to very hot and very dry conditions over the past few weeks (maps below)."

See more HERE:

Precipitation From Normal April 1st - July 16th

No wonder why drought conditions are popping up across the state... take a look at the total precipitation departure from normal graphic below. It is indicating that from April 1st - July 16th, some folks in northwestern Minnesota are nearly 6" behind normal. Meanwhile, the monster flooding near Duluth, MN in late June has folks there nearly 12" or more above normal during that time frame.

Drought 2012

On a regional basis, the drought worsens dramatically as you head south... in fact, there are EXTREME to EXCEPTIONAL drought conditions there. In 3 months, the area below has seen abnormally dry conditions balloon nearly 45% to almost 86% of the area. 3 months ago, there were no severe drought conditions (RED) and now there is a 12% coverage area.

Corn Prices At Record Levels

"The drought, now rated the worst in U.S. history since 1956, has pushed corn prices over the 8$ threshold and soybeans to $17.23 per bushel."

"The worst drought in a half century will continue to plague most of the U.S. Midwest crop region for at least the next 10 days, with only occasional showers providing some relief mainly in the east, an agricultural meteorologist said on Thursday.

America's top two corn and soybean producing states, Iowa and Illinois, are now in the center of the drought as the dryness spreads to the northwest to leech what little moisture remains in already parched soils."

Read more from croplife.com HERE:

"An underdeveloped ear of corn lays amongst corn plants damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions in a field in Carmi, Illinois. The worst Midwest drought since 1988 is baking farms from Arkansas to Ohio and boosting the cost of corn used in food for people and livestock at a time when consumers are already paying the most ever for meat. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg" 

Read more from Bloomberg.com HERE:

Heat Continues This Weekend

Look at the high temperature map for Saturday... WHEW! More 90s and 100s, some may even be at record levels in the central part of the country... When will it end!

Heat Continues Through July

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has a high probability of the above average temperatures continuing through the end of the month. The 6-10 day temperature outlook shows a 60% chance of above average temperature during that time frame centered over Kansas City & St. Louis, MO.

National Severe Weather Threat Saturday

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a SLIGHT RISK of severe weather for parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley, but there will be areas of convection in the green shaded areas, which could tip severe limits as well. 1" diameter hail and 58mph wind gusts are considered to be 'severe'

Weekend Precipitation

NOAA's HPC shows areas of precipitation over the weekend from the Desert Southwest to the Great Lakes and another swath of heavier rain from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic State. These areas of precipitation will come in the form of showers and thunderstorms all rotating in a clockwise fashion around the bubble of heat in the central part of the country.

Thanks for checking in, have a great weekend!

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