Rain has washed away the dog days of summer, creating moderately wet conditions. Six of seven days this week recorded wetting rains and the gauge catch had measurable rain all seven days. Although there isn’t flooding in this area, soils and other surfaces are almost constantly wet. Lawns are lush, green, and are still growing. Consistently high humidity values have conspired with the rain to keep us wet. It even smells wet. Temperatures have been moderate to warm overnight and approaching the mid-80s during the day when it isn’t raining. Tuesday we caught the north end of a derecho (second of this summer) with little damage to the immediate area. South of here wasn’t so lucky; straight-line winds were recorded exceeding 100 mph and the numerous downed trees damaged property and interrupted power for hundreds of thousands of customers. Nevertheless, outdoor recreation and agricultural activities are continuing, albeit at a reduced pace. Lightning bugs are still active and the crickets continue to chirp. Rain total for this week was 1.69 inches.