Just as I have said for days and days now "I have seen just one thunderstorm dump 4" or more in less than one hour. So just imagine if we get that out of one or two storms. That could lead to a whole world of problems with the current saturation level of the ground." Some storms did nearly that on Friday and that sparked the warnings. We have to watch these storms very closely folks... THE GROUND IS SATURATED!!!!! I have yet to see an impressive radar estimate of the rainfall... all I have seen were an inch or a little better here or there. There could be some better data out there that will show just that, but I just haven't seen it yet.

The whole point here is to consider the amount of rain it took to get those warnings out. It came fast and furious and right over that saturated ground that I keep referring too. To make this whole saturated ground thing sink in I have attached a picture of a sponge just below. We have all seen a sponge and I hope most of us have used one at least once... if you have you know that a sponge can soak up an enormous amount of water. Maybe not as much as the "Sham-WOW" if you haven't seen that... then I'll post a link...lol

Anyway... the sponge can absorb a lot of water, but even a sponge can hit a limit and allow water to start pouring back out of the sponge. That's the way the ground outside your home is right now. It is full of water and if you add too much too fast it can begin to cause issues like we have seen. The stage is set... which cast will show up is now the ultimate question!

For more on the Sham-Wow look towards the bottom of the post.

If you walked outside on Thursday or Friday you started feeling the high levels of humidity. The dewpoint depression numbers were only 10-15 degrees a part on Friday afternoon with the peak heating. So that just made it feel NASTY! That humidity you are feeling is high octane fuel for these thunderstorms that get fired up in eastern Kentucky. Very typical of the summer thunderstorms.

I told you in the last post that I wasn't going to show anymore precip accumulation graphics because they have been veering of here lately! All I will say is that there is plenty of moisture in the air. When you factor the saturated ground, high moisture content, and slow moving storms all into one equation you run into some issues!

I know that this has really been a bad time for many families here in eastern Kentucky. I also know that it is not a very good period for our economy. Just think... if you are reading this at your own home and this is your computer then you are doing much better than some of those who recently lost their home in a flood. Those folks need help my friends... and we are going to try to help them here at WYMT. We have teamed up with a couple of organizations and here is the end result!

Watch The Telethon Wed., May 20th from 5p-8p on WYMT-TV

All donations benefit Eastern KY Flood Victims!

Mail your donations to:

God's Pantry Food Bank

1685 Jaggie Fox Way

Lexington, KY 40511

American Red Cross

Big Sandy Area Chapter

American Red Cross, 113 South Central Ave.

Prestonsburg, KY 41653

www.bigsandyredcross.org

Mid East Kentucky Chapter

American Red Cross, P.O. Box 69

West Liberty, KY 41472

www.mideastredcross.org

I have tried to keep these posts as serious as I can, but I am not a 100% serious person all of the time. If I go to a funeral you can bet your bottom dollar that I will look for ways to laugh. If I to a hospital to visit someone I look for ways to laugh. You just can't dwell on the negatives... you just can't! That's why we need some humor in our lives. If you go around negative all the time it will just beat you down! That's why I am including this video of the sham-wow... I am not endorsing this product! I just love the commercial it makes me laugh a lot and I referenced it during my sponge discussion!

AGAIN... I AM NOT ENDORSING THIS PRODUCT THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRISkyV_B8

I am still saying WOW!!!!

C-Ya Bye