[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63gUON272f0&w=480&h=360]
MORE RAIN CHANCES: A few places in western and central Iowa struck liquid gold yesterday with some showers and storms in those areas. The rest of the state will look to cash in on the rainfall lottery today with a disturbance moving into the state from the west. This will enhance the shower and thunderstorm activity across the state today into tonight and the first part of Thursday before it moves off to the east. Rainfall will be light to moderate depending on if you get under one of the heavier thunderstorms. If not, a half inch or less is likely with amounts closer to an inch if you get a larger thunderstorm moving overhead.
COOL AND PLEASANT: The Iowa State Fair will open on Thursday to the beginning of several days of cool and dry weather with readings in Des Moines in the lower to middle 80s through the weekend. The only fly in the ointment looks to be Sunday with some showers and storms, otherwise there looks to be nothing weather related stopping you from going to the fair at least through the early part of next week.
EVEN MORE RAIN: Looking farther into the month, the pattern seems to be set on bringing several more storm systems through the state through the middle to latter half of August. This can be a good thing to cut into the drought that is plaguing the state and region currently. It may not be able to save many of the crops, but any little bit helps at this point.