Update - May 14, 2020

After a "cold" period during this past week, it looks as if the weather will be warming up significantly.  BUT, that doesn't mean there won't be a few "cool" days mixed in during the next few weeks.  Soil temperatures this past week certainly took a hit.  Here is a map of 4" soil temperatures as of 215 PM this Thursday afternoon....



For mid-May, that is pretty cold don't you think?

For a while now I've been expecting an up-tick in weather activity from the 10th through 28th, specifically.  Since the last post I did on the 6th (you can read that post by clicking here), there were several systems bringing precipitation and generous amounts.  However, the growing drought area largely missed out.  This has been a concern of mine lately.  I sure have an uneasy feeling as we get deeper into the growing season.  Here is the map of rainfall (and actually snow in north central Kansas) for the past 7 days....



Eastern Kansas continues to be targeted with a lot of rain!  And the west?  Mostly missing out.  Will this continue through the 28th?

Again, I've expected this increase in activity for this period of 10th-28th that we've been in.  I would highly surprised is the drought area misses again, and again for this period.  Will it be enough to jump out of drought conditions.  I don't think so, at least through the rest of this month.  Here is the expected precipitation through next Thursday (from the Weather Prediction Center)….



With luck, that dry area will get quite a bit through the end of the Month.  But, I this point I wouldn't expect overly heavy rains.  I'm also concerned that other parts of the high plains may be on the edge of the elevated mixed layer (the warm air aloft or capping inversion that prevents widespread precipitation).

I'll try and update early next week....