Rain Ending - July 6, 2007

     Soon I hope. In summer we normally forecast sunny and hot weather and are correct nearly every day. It’s a time when the temperatures and the electric bill begin to soar, but so far, not this summer.

     Temperatures have been much cooler than normal and the rain will not stop. We witnessed devastating flooding in Coffeyville and Independence, Kansas and northern Oklahoma like some of the long time residents have never seen before. 
    
     The devastation is staggering, so many people have lost so much. Farms, homes, crops, businesses, and lives destroyed and if it didn’t rain another drop for a month most would be just fine. Lake and river levels are being monitored by the hour and most can tell you the exact time the Corp of Engineers expect the rivers near their homes crest and fall below flood stage.

     Crowds are gathering at area dams to watch take pictures and watch the release of billions of gallons of water. I’ve heard from many of you who say they have never seen the water this high. In Tulsa, we have received rain 25 out of the last 28 days! Some of those days it was only a trace, but other days it was a deluge.

     On Independence Day an evening storm sat over the NE side of town and dropped 2.6” of rain setting a record as the wettest 4th of July on record. The persistent upper low-pressure system responsible for this soggy summer has moved south, for now, causing more flooding in Texas. It has given us a brief respite from the rain here but is expected to migrate back into Oklahoma next week.

     Until this storm system gets kicked east, continue to see chances for rain in our forecasts. But it cannot last all summer. We will eventually see high pressure parked over the plains and dry days of summer return. 
    
     I never thought I would get excited about sunny and hot weather, but after all we have gone through, that is exactly what this area needs, at least for a while.
     If you have a weather question for Dan, send it to: askdan@kjrh.com