It would appear our flooding problem now stands to get worse.  Heavy rains are forecast to begin tonight and stretch through Saturday, bringing with it the menace of three to six inches (eight to fifteen centimeters) of heavy precipitation in the next 48 hours.  That carries with it the promise of exacerbating an already unending flood problem.  The ground cannot handle more rain, let alone more heavy rain—especially two full days of it.  Thunderstorms that have popped up daily offered their own brief deluges which have caused major problems, so imagine what will happen when this intimidating complex settles over us.

Even now the sky has grown dark and forbidding, thunder rumbles through the air and ground with ominous concentration, and lightning has started a graceful dance in the southern sky.  The storms are near enough to smell rain yet not too near.  But they’re moving in this direction, a large swathe of them joined together in a watery waltz meant for North Texas.

This region—hell, the whole state finally got a break from the drought that plagued us for years.  We also swung the pendulum far in the opposite direction to get that relief.  I suppose it’s six of one and half-a-dozen of another. . .

Meanwhile, no one seems to be complaining about the cooler than usual temperatures.  We’ve barely scratched 90°F (32°C) and appear to have no chance of visiting the century mark (38°C).

While I’m on the subject, take a look at this interesting summary by NOAA of DFW’s usual 100°F weather.  It’s quite telling.  An average of sixteen days at or above, a maximum of 69 days in any one year, a maximum of 42 days in a row, and on and on it goes.  Albeit brief and to the point, I think you’ll find it informative as to what our weather normally looks like during summer.

Only not this year.

By the way, pay special attention to the various records and statistics from 1980.  I was here that year.  It was hell in every sense of the word.  The all-time hottest temperature, the all-time most days above 100, the all-time most consecutive days, and on and on.  I assure you it was not the best summer for visitors, let alone the native population.