stormy

.11" rain yesterday and .85" for the week. Green grass abounds.

Thank you! I do appreciate your interest in this. I have followed the Drought Monitor closely for years and have had faith in its veracity until in recent months. I closely monitor water and soil conditions for some rather large agricultural interests, both topsoil and underground water table. Back in late February when our Augusta water table was 21 ft. below normal, the U.S. Drought Monitor placed Augusta in moderate drought. In late June when our water table had recovered to only 2 ft. below normal after a very wet May, the drought Monitor placed us in severe to Extreme Drought. Go figure On May 19, Augusta was all extreme. Northern Va. was all severe. On June 30, most of northern Va. down to central Rockingham had been downgraded to moderate drought. Augusta was and remains in severe to extreme. I can no longer trust the U.S. Drought Monitor as a reliable source of information.

Augusta County is mostly green and growing. My lawn looks quite lush and green for nearly mid July. The U.S. Drought Monitor has not changed since June 1 and keeps Augusta in Severe to Extreme Drought. Truly amazing.

Another .53" this late afternoon! Fishersville received 2.24..

I received .15 but there is a report east of New Hope of 1.18". A friend driving thru that area said ditches were full.

.10" yesterday evening. Staunton was under a Warning for about 30 minutes. West-side received around 2.00".

.75" so far. Temp. down to 70.

.22" more in a torrential short shower 4:05. Temperature down to 79!

Temp. dropped from 95 to 84 in a thundershower that dropped .07" rain.

68.3 after 100.3 at 5:30 yesterday.

The NWS had predicted a high of 95.0 for me today. Right now I am 98.9!

24 hrs. ago to this minute, I observed 96.0. Today at 4 pm, I observe 97. 3 The record at 100 in 1898 is safe.

64.8 at 6:30

A cooler afternoon at 96.0 at 4 pm... 24 hours ago to this minute was 97.8......

My low was 65.2 this morning. High yesterday was 98. A little too cool for the record which was 99 in 1959.