Well let's see, I haven't done a weather blog in a few days...and there is still nothing really to talk about...the winds are up as expected and will stay on the gusty side all the way into Saturday...although tomorrow should be the windiest of the next couple of days with gusts possibly in the 30-40 MPH area and again the potential for wildfires will be an issue. Today we're getting wind gusts close to 30-35...so tomorrow may actually be a bit more on the windy side in the PM...

A lot of sun is expected into the weekend and the rain chances, which we've never really mentioned on the air this week at all, have virtually disappeared from the weekend forecast. So for the NASCAR nation, all may be good, however with all the tailgating/bques's going on out there, and the winds, especially on SAT, there could be some concern about the cinder dry conditions that have developed, which combined with the gusty winds is troubling...so IF you're doing anything related to burning, be VERY careful. Wouldn't be surprised if some burn bans go into effect.

While we're enjoying the spectacular weather, it's certainly no secret that we really need a few inches of rainfall, preferably spread out over the course of 7-10 days...and nothing like that is likely for our area. The area that is most favored for an event like this is the western plains, which can desperately use it more than us. Here is the latest NAM forecast for the rainfall totals out there...upwards of 2-4" is possible in parts of Central Western KS down through the OK Panhandle.

Just how dry have they been...check out the following map...showing the percent of normal precipitation over the past 6 months...

You can clearly see that some areas out there are running less than 25% of their averages. So the rainfall there, will certainly be welcome, assuming it all pans out.

As far as our area goes, the energy from this system will stay well to our W/NW and most to all of the precip that forms out to the west of here, will generally be lifting towards the N/NNE and not moving towards our area. It's not out of the question that something could sneak into the NW/W part of the viewing area...but even this could be pushing things a bit.

So when will it rain again? Well there is at least some potential sometime Tuesday or Wednesday of next week as some pacific energy screams through the region. 30% chances seem like a good starting point for that. It does not look, at this point, like it will put much of a dent into the dry spell, which today is at 18 days and counting. Amounts look to be under .50" at this point and perhaps considerably under that number IF we even get some rain.

At some point it will rain, but for those of us who killed :( our yards off late int he summer and spent a small fortune renovating with new seed etc...this dry spell has come at the worst possible time. I talked to some of the grass people in the know, and they recommended to me that at this point you're better off now waiting till late NOV or DEC, maybe right before a decent snow and then get more seed down and hope for a wetter winter season. Unless you want to keep pouring water on your yards (like me) it may be a better way to go with the forecast showing little rain amounts for the next 10-14 days.

Finally today, the KC Star has published a book called Joplin 5:41. It is about one of the biggest tornados in our nations history. Here is more information...

Kansas City Star Books presents the incredible story of tragedy and courage
in the face of one of Nature's mightiest storms in its new book, "Joplin:
5:41."  All royalties from the book go to the Joplin Recovery Fund managed
by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and the Community Foundation of
Southwest Missouri.  Kansas City Star staff members Eric Alder and Laura
Bauer, who are contributing writers to "Joplin: 5:41," will give a
presentation and sign books at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Kansas City
Public Library Central location.  Patrons attending are encouraged to call
the library or sign up online at kclibrary.org. You can preview a chapter in
the book at www.thekansascitystore.com

That's it for today...enjoy the beautiful weather...clouds may become a bit more numerous heading towards next week.

Joe