Two potent Pacific storm systems, arriving in sequence this weekend, will produce a variety of severe weather across the Heartland; strong thunderstorms, tornados, high winds, intense lightning and large hail are forecast for many areas. On the positive side, heavy rains will move across drought-plagued regions of the Great Plains and Midwest.
Here in central Missouri, where a drought persists, the first wave of storms arrived early this morning, dropping an inch of rain. A second wave is expected this evening and periodic storms will likely develop over the next 48 hours.
While episodes of heavy rain are welcome, brief downpours are not as effective in relieving drought as are prolonged, steady, soaking rains. Large amounts of rain over short periods of time usually produce rapid runoff with possible flash flooding. But we'll take rain in any form at this point.
