Good News...Storm Brings Relief to Drought Areas in Parts of the Plains

[Stuart G]

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/storm-brings-drought-relief-to/10121535


Storm Brings Drought Relief to Parts of the Plains



By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

April 13, 2013; 6:35 AM




A wild storm, which brought a blizzard and severe thunderstorms this week, also delivered heavy rainfall (and snow) to some very needy areas of the Plains.

The storm has delivered a general swath of 1- to 6-inch rainfall or the liquid equivalent from portions of Wyoming, eastward to Iowa.

Many of these areas, especially locations from the High Plains to the Rockies, have been experiencing building drought since last summer

There have been improvements in all stages of drought over the much of the middle of the nation. This is the first week in many, where the drought status has improved in more places, rather than worsened.

[malaise]

1. Great news

We'll also have a busy hurricane season
Busy 2013 hurricane season predicted by Colorado State meteorologists

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2013/04/busy_2013_hurricane_season_pre.html
<snip>
The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be more active than usual, with 18 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes, according to the annual spring forecast of Colorado State University meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and William Gray.

That compares with a 1981-2010 average of 12 named storms, 6.5 hurricanes and two major hurricanes each year.

"Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted," the meteorologists said.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. We could use rain in southern California

We've had less than half our usual amount this rainy season (which isn't all that much to begin with).

[In_The_Wind]

3. That is great!

[one_voice]

4. This is a very good thing. n/t

[Kali]

5. kick and congrats

from SE AZ where we are I think in year 25 of a 20 year drouth

[femmocrat]

6. Kick

Every cloud has a silver lining!

[Coyotl]

7. Perfect timing for the crop season and still flowing onshore, raining in Oregon right now

The current satellite has a flow from Hawaii northward moving tropical moisture into the circumpolar jet stream.