Last week the Climate Prediction Center was predicting that the last few days of August/first few days of September would be cooler than normal (normal is High 85/Low 63) for the Mid-South. As we now approach the time period that was predicted to be cooler than normal, it is clear that the models are consistently underestimating the scope of this historic hot/dry August, as predicted temperatures over the next few days have highs near 90 with lows in the upper 60s. Continue reading →

Both Bowling Green and Nashville had streaks of consecutive days with high temperatures greather than or equal to 95 F snapped on Sunday. Bowling Green had a streak of 22 days of 95+ (second all-time to the 23 day streak in 1894) while Nashville had a record streak of 24 days of 95+ (previous record was 19 in 1952).

The U.S. Drought Monitor has officially moved nearly all of Kentucky into the category of extreme drought (this is a drought with a historical frequency of once every 20-30 years) while large parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia are in an exceptional drought (once every 50 years or greater). View the difference between this week’s rankings and last week’s rankings.

Back in early August I posted here that August 2007 could potentially break all-time heat records (dating back over 100 years) in the Mid-South. And with only eight days to go in the month, it is certain that the all-times records will not just be broken but smashed in many locations. Continue reading →

This drought showed two signs this week that things in the mid-south are going to get much worse before they get better. Continue reading →

I am feeling pretty comfortable with my thoughts from yesterday regarding widespread showers/thunderstorms in the Mid-South for the Sunday-Wednesday period. Continue reading →

The Mid-South remains on pace to break all-time records for August heat as we can expect another week of high temperatures near 100. Rain chances this week are minimal although KY could receive some rain as the ridge retreats to the west and Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCS) follow the ridge into the Mid-Atlantic. However, I do think our rain chances improve after the 20th as hurricane season gets going. Continue reading →

The August heat records are final! Read on for the details. Continue reading →

A number of factors lead me to believe that August 2007 may go down as one of the all-time warmest and driest Augusts across the Mid-South. Continue reading →