Pattern Reversal. Drought Conditions Possible to Develop

I always say weather is nothing but the planet's largest balancing act. 2019 has largely been a very wet, and frustrating year for Illinois. Many river residents and farmers have had to endure prolonged and in many cases, record flooding. 

However, in a dramatic turn around, things have taken a turn for the drier...the much, much drier. Precipitation rates dramatically dropped across much of the state during July, which happens to be the fastest drying month of the year due to the peak summer sun. 

The drying has been most dramatic across parts of western and central Illinois. Good news, in part for flood ravaged areas, but now things are starting to turn around and become TOO dry. Lawns are beginning to brown, and some lakes are even starting to drop. We lose more water in July and August to evaporation than any other month, and most areas need about 1" of rain per week to keep with the rates. 

Coming off a couple dry weeks, the pattern ahead appears to maintain the dry spell. Right now, the GFS is showing less than an inch of rain across most of the state.

Coming off an already dry couple of weeks, it will do little to help. 

Due to the this, the CPC (climate prediction center) has much of northern Illinois outlooked for potential drought conditions developing during the month of August. As of now, we're not seeing any reason to disagree with this. It's always feast or famine around here it seems. The drought monitor is updated once a week, and we'll be bringing each update as they are released!
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