Sublimation and Advection

This morning much of Mid-Michigan was covered with fog.  The fog was caused by warm air moving over the snow covered ground.  The warm air causes moisture some of the snow to turn directly into a vapor (skipping the liquid stage).  This process is know as sublimation.  When the air is completely saturated, meaning it can hold no more vapor, the water begins to condense or turn into liquid droplets (fog).  This type of fog is known as advection fog.

The skies open up...

Rainfall totals recorded for Mt. Pleasant, MI for the time period 01 AUG to 31 AUG 2015: 

2.72 inches (6.9088 cm)

Rainfall recorded yesterday (03 SEPT 2015) at the Mt. Pleasant: 

2.0 inches (5.08 ms)

Rainfall recorded at my house yesterday:

Approximately 2.25 inches of rain fell at my house on 03 SEP 2015 - nearly as much as the previous month combined

Appreciating the rain

 I'm only happy when it rains
I'm only happy when it's complicated
And though I know you can't appreciate it
I'm only happy when it rains 

               - Garbage

                                                 "Only Happy When It Rains"

It rained during the night.  It is raining today.  Rain is also forecast for tonight.

Why is this a big deal?

Average rainfall for the month of July in Alma is 2.77 inches.  This year the recorded amount for July was 1.09 inches.

August has been even worse.  Average precipitation for Alma in August is 3.45 inches.  Through the 26th, only 0.51 inches of rainfall was recorded. Since August 8th less than .10 inches has fallen.

Overall conditions in Mount Pleasant have not been quite so bad.  Mt. Pleasant nearly met its July average with 2.80 inches recorded - 2.87 inches is average.  However, August rainfall has been nowhere near average.  Average monthly precipitation is 3.33 inches; of which only 0.68 inches had fallen through the 26th of the month. 

Everything need the rain.  Soils are cracked, plants are browning out and dropping leaves early, wetlands are mudflats or drier.  It is probably too late for many of the crops in the field at this point.

If you could listen hard enough you might hear the plants slurping in the water as it filters into the ground.

So right now, as the song says, I'm only happy when it rains.