GOSH DANG IT... need to vent! (IL Drought.. ongoing thread)

[Pebbles]

I wish it would just RAIN!!!! It's non stop hot and the ground is so cracked... and my grass is brown... and I am SICK AND TIRED of spending 2 to 3 hours watering everyday! I have a tons of new little plants and rows of over a hundred peat pot seedlings that have to be watered by hand in this crap.... at least daily cause they dry out so fast. I can't transplant them cause they will die with the water evaporating too fast out of shallow soil.. so have to let them get bigger then I would like. My water bill is going to be sick. It's eating all my free time (thus no time for storm2k *pouts*).

*shakes a fist at the sky* RAIN ALREADY!

We haven't had even a pop up storm in WEEKS thanks to lake effect winds like some of our neighboring counties. Now knowing my luck we will finally get rain and it won't stop for weeks and then everything will flood! *sighs*

[Scorpion]

Wanna switch? I hate the constant rain here, finally today its a sunny day. We are about 6 inches above our normal for this time of year, and the ground is awfully saturated.

[JenBayles]

Wanna switch? I hate the constant rain here, finally today its a sunny day. We are about 6 inches above our normal for this time of year, and the ground is awfully saturated.

YES!!

[Stephanie]

It's interesting to see how each year, there's a different area of the country experiencing drought conditions. Last year it was the West/Southwest. Two years ago it was the Northeast. We all know what will probably bust that trend though, huh? A tropical system!

I hope you do get some rain soon guys! I feel for you!

[PurdueWx80]

I drove from Madison to Chicago over the weekend and couldn't believe how dry and brown everything was. Even trees had started to turn brown and many had lost some leaves. The corn crop is really going to suffer this year, especially in parts of MO, IL and IN. Should be some widespread rain Wed/Thursday, but not nearly enough to end the drought.

[Pebbles]

IT"S RAINING!!!! OMG RAIN WHOOT WHOOT.. pouring rain too! A popcorn storm finally decided to pop right over our heads. Even the kids got excited and ran out to play till it really started to pound down cold LOL... now they are drying off from their rain fun! No where near enough to end the drought, but at least saves watering for today. Except for the seedlings which I don't mind. Maybe I should shake a fist at the sky more often untill we catch up *snickers*

And Scorpion.. I'll send you some sun and really hot weather if you send us some rain.. make sure it's not too much both ways though

[Stephanie]

I'm glad Pebbles!

[PurdueWx80]

Chicago and much of the state of Illinois has now been put into an extreme drought situation under the latest drought guidanc. While the drought affects agricultural interests predominantly, expect water restrictions to come by August - also, with all that dry ground (unless Dennis helps to break moisten things up) Chicago should easily see 100 degree heat by the end of the summer since the corn won't be adding much moisture to the air.

[Pebbles]

Yeah that lil bit of rain when i last posted in this thread is all we got Dennis gave us a whole whopping .03 inches when I was counting on .50 at least. GAH I hate this drought. It's the suckies big time. Just got my electric bill for June. It's sick.. expect this type in hot August.. not June. Quite frankly petrified of what the water bill is going to look like The lake is only 4 miles from my house. So we may not have to worry about water restrictions here... but further out in the suburbs and rural areas many are already implementing them.

[azskyman]

Hi....I have family and friends all along I-90 from Arlington Heights on out to Rockford and beyond, and all of them are saying how dry it is right now...true drought with warmer than normal conditions.

My experience after 50 years in north central Illinois tells me you will get drought-busting rains before October. Often, the first 10 days of August can be a very wet cycle.

Let's see what happens. I know how sad it looks to see so much brown around this time of year. I also know how much it costs to water a yard and garden!

Patience.

Steve

[Pebbles]

Hi....I have family and friends all along I-90 from Arlington Heights on out to Rockford and beyond, and all of them are saying how dry it is right now...true drought with warmer than normal conditions.

My experience after 50 years in north central Illinois tells me you will get drought-busting rains before October. Often, the first 10 days of August can be a very wet cycle.

Let's see what happens. I know how sad it looks to see so much brown around this time of year. I also know how much it costs to water a yard and garden!

Patience.

Steve

Thanks Steve... will keep hoping it pans out.. specially as with all the blacktop in the metro area it can really bring up temps higher then surrounding areas. Would hate for there to be a repeat of the 1995 heat wave up here. See after living in NC I know why it effects people so bad up here unlike down south. Life styles are so very different. We rush rush rush up here. Down south people are use to heat. Their blood is thinner, then know to take things slower during the afternoon, drink more and are more aware of heat stroke signs. Many low income people don't have AC up here and pollution doesn't help the problem either. You can feel the smog on your skin, believe it or not, on super hot days. Without rain to bring ground temps down a bit, have a real concern August could be a problem for those that are lower income. So keeping the fingers crossed that the wet cycle happens.

[Pebbles]

Possible rain this afternoon and tonight? *crosses fingers* The NWS discussion is optimistic! WE are now progged at 50%.. best odds I've seen all summer!

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
645 AM CDT WED JUL 202005

.DISCUSSION...DECENT PROSPECTS FOR SOME MUCH NEADED IF NOT TOO LATE
RAINFALL FOR PARCHED FIELDS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

[PurdueWx80]

Pebbles - the models have been showing 2-5" of rain for the Chicago metro area today and tonight. I think it's a little extreme but amounts up to 2 inches seems possible. We're getting hammered up here in Madison - I don't even remember the last time it stormed or rained this hard. I'm lovin' it.

By the way, the heatwave in Chicago this weekend could approach levels seen back in '95. Highs will easily reach between 95 and 105 from Saturday through at least Monday, and lows will remain in the mid-to-upper 70's. This will be a big test to see if any lessons were learned from the last killer heatwave to affect the city.

[Hurricaneman]

Hope you get rain soon

[Pebbles]

Pebbles - the models have been showing 2-5" of rain for the Chicago metro area today and tonight. I think it's a little extreme but amounts up to 2 inches seems possible. We're getting hammered up here in Madison - I don't even remember the last time it stormed or rained this hard. I'm lovin' it.

By the way, the heatwave in Chicago this weekend could approach levels seen back in '95. Highs will easily reach between 95 and 105 from Saturday through at least Monday, and lows will remain in the mid-to-upper 70's. This will be a big test to see if any lessons were learned from the last killer heatwave to affect the city.

THERE MAY BE A FEW LIGHT SHOWERS DEVELOPING EARLY TONIGHT ACROSS
NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS THROUGH NORTHWEST INDIANA.
THE HEAVY RAINS HOWEVER HAVE MOVED SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND
NO LONGER POSE A THREAT OF LIGHTNING AND STRONG WINDS.

We got some fairly brief around 2pm ... waiting to see what the actual totals were out of midway airport (ohare is actually pretty far north of us) but have a feeling .5 inches would be generous honestly. A second batch of heavy rains fired up earlier this evening but was west and south of our county.

Was kinda really hoping for more, with the heatwave looking more likely, to cushion the gardens. Yes, heard about that for sunday and monday. In fact we have been having problems with our main AC unit (it's 25 years old) so had to remind my brother to please get our window unit back from a friend of his. We have to have that with 3 little ones in the house if it the heat wave happens...

There is still a chance of rain tomorrow and haven't given up hope those might prove more fruitful!

[Pebbles]

Just some info I found in the NWS reports section
...EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE IN PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
AND NORTHEAST ILLINOIS...

THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR IS UPDATED EACH THURSDAY. THE JULY 12TH
RELEASE OF THE DROUGHT MONITOR CONTINUED TO SHOW THAT WEST CENTRAL
THROUGH NORTHEAST ILLINOIS REMAINS BEING CLASSIFIED AS IN EXTREME
DROUGHT CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE NARRATIVE REPORT...THIS WAS
BASED ON DECLINING SHORT-TERM CONDITIONS...AS WELL AS BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL DATING BACK FROM 6 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS. COUNTIES INCLUDED IN
THE EXTREME DROUGHT INCLUDE: COOK...DUPAGE...WILL...KANKAKEE...
KANE...DEKALB...LEE...LASALLE...KENDALL...GRUNDY...AND LIVINGSTON.
DURING EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS THERE MAY BE MAJOR CROP AND
PASTURE LOSSES...WITH WATER SHORTAGES COMMON AND WATER RESTRICTIONS
IMPOSED. THERE IS ALSO AN EXTREME RISK OF FIRE DANGER.

ELSEWHERE...SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS CONTINUE IN THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES: WINNEBAGO...OGLE...BOONE...MCHENRY...LAKE...FORD...
IROQUOIS...AND LAKE AND PORTER COUNTIES IN INDIANA. A MODERATE
DROUGHT REMAINS FOR JASPER...NEWTON...AND BENTON COUNTIES IN
INDIANA. DURING SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS...CROP OR PASTURE LOSSES
ARE LIKELY WITH WATER SHORTAGES COMMON AND WATER RESTRICTIONS
IMPOSED. ALSO THE FIRE RISK IS VERY HIGH.

THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR IS A WEEKLY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN
SEVERAL FEDERAL AGENCIES...INCLUDING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE...AND THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION
CENTER. DROUGHT LEVELS IN THE MONITOR ARE CLASSIFIED ON A SCALE OF
D0 TO D4:

D0 -- ABNORMALLY DRY
D1 -- MODERATE DROUGHT
D2 -- SEVERE DROUGHT
D3 -- EXTREME DROUGHT
D4 -- EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT

THE NARRATIVE DISCUSSION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT
HTTP://WWW.DROUGHT.UNL.EDU/DM/MONITOR.HTML. IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE
ON THE FOS/WMO CIRCUITS UNDER HEADER FXUS25 KWNC OR UNDER AWIPS
HEADER PMDDRO.

...SYNOPSIS...ALTHOUGH A COLD FRONT PUSHED ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS
AND INDIANA THIS AFTERNOON THAT TRIGGERED SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...
MOST AREAS RECEIVED LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION BRINGING YET MORE DRY AND HOT WEATHER.
ANOTHER FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SWEEP THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND
THURSDAY BRINGING WITH IT ANOTHER CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER
ANOTHER RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN AFTER THAT BRINGING DRY
CONDITIONS ALONG WITH OPPRESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY FOR THE UPCOMING
WEEKEND.

...CLIMATE STATISTICS...
SINCE MARCH 1ST...PRECIPITATION DEFICITS ACROSS ILLINOIS AND
NORTHWEST INDIANA ARE RUNNING ABOUT HALF OF NORMAL. BELOW ARE SOME
SPECIFICS:

STATION TOTAL 3/1-6/30 PERCENT OF NORMAL
O'HARE 5.76 43%
ROCKFORD 6.37 43%
ROMEOVILLE 8.29 N/A*
AURORA 7.51 51%
DEKALB 6.88 47%
DIXON 8.04 52%
KANKAKEE 6.75 43%
MORRIS 8.00 56%
OTTAWA 6.93 49%
PONTIAC 5.52 39%
WATSEKA 7.99 50%
RENSSELAER 7.51 49%

*NORMAL PRECIPITATION DATA FOR ROMEOVILLE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

ALTHOUGH JULY INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THE ABOVE
SITES...ONLY 0.13 INCHES OF RAIN HAS BEEN RECORDED AT O'HARE. THE
DRIEST JULY ON RECORD WAS BACK IN 1936 WITH 0.22 INCHES. AT
ROCKFORD...ONLY 0.25 INCHES OF RAIN WAS RECORDED AT ROCKFORD. THE
DRIEST JULY WAS BACK IN 1937 WITH 0.05 INCHES.

[PurdueWx80]

Not to brag, but we're getting even MORE heavy rain, and this batch is quite unexpected, as was yesterday's. We picked up 1.17" in Madison, and radar estimates just to our west this morning are showing widespread 1-2" amounts - locally higher!

Pebbles - areas just south and southwest of Chicago did actually see 2-5" of rain last night according to the Doppler out of Chicago. A slight bit of this may be due to hail contaminationg, but I'm pretty sure these estimates are very close, as little severe hail was reported last evening. You guys just missed out on it, but this batch coming through here is refiring and a new watch has been issued for the Chicago metro area until 1 p.m. Looks like more rain for you guys! OK - time to unplug the computer as there is some major lightning here now. Woohoo!!

[Pebbles]

Not to brag, but we're getting even MORE heavy rain, and this batch is quite unexpected, as was yesterday's. We picked up 1.17" in Madison, and radar estimates just to our west this morning are showing widespread 1-2" amounts - locally higher!

Pebbles - areas just south and southwest of Chicago did actually see 2-5" of rain last night according to the Doppler out of Chicago. A slight bit of this may be due to hail contaminationg, but I'm pretty sure these estimates are very close, as little severe hail was reported last evening. You guys just missed out on it, but this batch coming through here is refiring and a new watch has been issued for the Chicago metro area until 1 p.m. Looks like more rain for you guys! OK - time to unplug the computer as there is some major lightning here now. Woohoo!!

You stole all the rain.. The rain broke down right before hitting us *sniffs* and then re-fired in Indiana. Can you believe we didn't get 1 drop of rain today! go figure LOL. Well the week ahead looks very hot.. and very dry. But my hand watering has paid off.. my garden looks pretty at least. Will have to get a picture up so everyone can see. I've worked so hard through this drought so am very proud of the feat!

[PurdueWx80]

Not to brag, but we're getting even MORE heavy rain, and this batch is quite unexpected, as was yesterday's. We picked up 1.17" in Madison, and radar estimates just to our west this morning are showing widespread 1-2" amounts - locally higher!

Pebbles - areas just south and southwest of Chicago did actually see 2-5" of rain last night according to the Doppler out of Chicago. A slight bit of this may be due to hail contaminationg, but I'm pretty sure these estimates are very close, as little severe hail was reported last evening. You guys just missed out on it, but this batch coming through here is refiring and a new watch has been issued for the Chicago metro area until 1 p.m. Looks like more rain for you guys! OK - time to unplug the computer as there is some major lightning here now. Woohoo!!

You stole all the rain.. The rain broke down right before hitting us *sniffs* and then re-fired in Indiana. Can you believe we didn't get 1 drop of rain today! go figure LOL. Well the week ahead looks very hot.. and very dry. But my hand watering has paid off.. my garden looks pretty at least. Will have to get a picture up so everyone can see. I've worked so hard through this drought so am very proud of the feat!

Oh my gosh, I know. I felt so bad when I saw it skip over you guys! We've had nearly 2 inches in the last 2 days - not enough to end the drought by any means - and in fact it may be too late for many crops, but it has definitely helped the grass green up a bit.

Sunday will definitely be one of those days where everyone should stay inside and take it easy as heat indeces may exceed 115 for a few hours in the afternoon. Monday will be no walk in the park either. A major cool down is still on track for the middle of the week - and that may mean severe weather to boot as the cold front comes through Tuesday or Wed.

[Pebbles]

Going outside may be unavoidable during the heat wave but will break it down into 10 minute spurts. I could just shoot my hubby for moving a couple plants this morning. GAH right before a heat wave was not a good idea. Of course the plants he moved were special dahlia's I've been drooling for over 1 year and paid a little extra for from the home and garden convention. Gotta try to baby them through so praying the heat doesn't get em too bad before the reestablish themselves. Learned lots about dealing with heat from living in NC so no worries there. Think almost 1/2 the country is gonna be drinking lotsa water, crankin the AC, and taking it slow for the next 4 or 5 days till things back off!

What are the farmers gonna do? This is horrid for them!