Mid-summer drought????

Since June 20th, big chunks of Chicagoland have suffered a pronounced dry spell. A few storms peppered the area Friday into Saturday, but the 1"+ rain per week needed to keep plants going has been lacking of late.  A new round of storms threatens tomorrow night into Wednesday morning, but new computer guidance hints at the ol' Chicago split... with a blob of raining splitting way north, and another shooting into central IL.  What's more, long range guidance from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center suggests drier than normal weather is likely for the next two weeks at least. As wet as the year began in Chicago, it will be interesting to see whether the pattern flip holds.  Much of central Wisconsin is now in a bona-fide drought, and the area has been expanding.  Stay tuned!