Highway 25 Moderate to Severe Drought; Hot & Dry Fri-Tue; Some Scattered Rain Chances Wed/Thu & Sat/Sun Next Week

<p>Yesterday’s drought monitor now has the Highway 25 corridor in moderate to severe drought and abnormally dry west to the Colorado border and east to Norton and Hill City. The hot and dry period today through early next week will only intensify the stress on crops, grasslands, livestock, and people.  The upper-level storm track will be in the northern Plains and along the Canadian border, while westerly down sloping winds warm daytime temperature into the upper 90’s with some 100-degree heat potential Monday and Tuesday and elevated fire concerns through the period.  Today breezy south winds will push highs to near 100-degrees.  Northwest winds tomorrow will bring back some smoke and haze and drop highs just a bit into the mid-90’s. </p>