While generally unseasonably cool temperatures for the month of July in 2014 made headlines, it was the rainfall that was a bit more off the mark statistically. We were more than four degrees cooler than normal for high temperatures for July in Rochester which is certainly noteworthy, but not record-setting by any means. We measured less than half the normal amount of rainfall for the month, meanwhile, with 0.65 inches falling in the second half of the month. Thankfully, we had a two-inch surplus of rainfall for the year heading into the month, so we’ve managed to hold off being placed in a drought category by the USDA, but things are getting pretty dry nonetheless and if we don’t start getting regular rainfall soon, that could change.
Temperatures through most of July were rather comfortable, but definitely cooler than normal while rainfall was also on the low side compared to the climate average.
There is some good news for those hoping for a little more rain as the pattern as we start August today appears to becoming a bit more active. There will be small disturbances in the upper levels of the atmosphere through the weekend that bring small doses of shower and thunderstorm activity or at least the hope of some rain to southeastern Minnesota and northern Iowa and that looks to be followed by a slow-moving storms system and a stalled frontal boundary next week that will serve as the focus for repeated rounds of showers and thunderstorms. Those chances will increase through the week, leading up to a potentially soggy midweek. Rainfall totals over the weekend will be generally less than half an inch, but in that possibly wet stretch of weather next week, we may be adding in another inch or two of rain, possibly a little more in some spots.
Some scattered shower activity over the weekend followed by a slow-moving storms system in the upcoming week may bring us relief from our dry weather spell and ward off drought conditions.
The data above from the Weather Prediction Center suggests that some of the heaviest rain in the next five to seven days may fall in our area.
