Warmer air holds more water

Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin University of Wisconsin
Jul 24, 2025
Jul 24, 2025

Rain — A storm passes over Madison, Wisconsin. The Dane County Regional Airport received 0.73 inches of rain July 16.
OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin University of Wisconsin

Almost all areas in the U.S. are getting more heavy precipitation, with the largest increases in the Midwest and Northeast.

kAmkDEC@?8m"F6DE:@?ik^DEC@?8m w@H :D C2:?72== :?E6?D:EJ 492?8:?8nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mp?DH6Cik^DEC@?8m %96 }2E:@?2= ~462?:4 2?5 pE>@DA96C:4 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? >2:?E2:?D @3D6CG2E:@?D @7 E6>A6C2EFC6 2?5 AC64:A:E2E:@? 6IEC6>6D :? E96 &]$] %96 52E2 :?5:42E6 E92E 4@=5 6IEC6>6D :? E96 &]$] 92G6 364@>6 =6DD 7C6BF6?E] $:?46 E96 `hb_D[ E96C6 92G6 366? >2?J >@C6 C64@C5\9:89 E6>A6C2EFC6D 4@>A2C65 H:E9 C64@C5\=@H E6>A6C2EFC6D] (:E9 H2C>6C E6>A6C2EFC6D[ E96 2>@F?E @7 AC64:A:E23=6 H2E6C :? E96 2E>@DA96C6 2=D@ :?4C62D6D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Cattle producer converts all crop acres to forage production
The PCV2 landscape has changed. Is your protection keeping up?
Freezer on the fritz sends stress level to boiling
Grocery stores bring so much more than food to communities they serve
Studies continue into rising rates of cancer
Family celebrates legacy of women farmers
A veterinarian’s perspective on failed execution of Tennessee woman
Energy abounds in Auburn FFA Chapter
Wet fall causes issues with soybean seed quality
Canola harvest wraps up across North Dakota
Pork leader talks national policy, local impact
Start succession conversation with farm legacy goals
What’s in our water? An engineer’s perspective on groundwater, soil health and future generations
October heat shuts down beet harvest for fear of spoilage
Music in our family

kAmr@?D:DE6?E H:E9 E96 :?4C62D65 2E>@DA96C:4 >@:DEFC6[ C2:?72== 2?5 6IEC6>6 AC64:A:E2E:@? 6G6?ED 92G6 2=D@ :?4C62D65] p=>@DE 2== 2C62D :? E96 &]$] 6I9:3:E :?4C62D6D :? 962GJ AC64:A:E2E:@?[ H:E9 E96 =2C86DE :?4C62D6D :? E96 |:5H6DE WcdT :?4C62D6X 2?5 }@CE962DE We_T :?4C62D6X] %96 }@CE9H6DE 92D E96 D>2==6DE :?4C62D6 W`TX :?4C62D6 7@==@H65 3J E96 (6DE6C? C68:@?D W`fT :?4C62D6X]k^Am

kAmp C2:? 52J :D 567:?65 2D 2 A6C:@5 @7 ac 9@FCD :? H9:49 _]_` :?49 @C >@C6 @7 C2:? :D C64@C565] %96 :?E6?D:EJ @7 C2:?72== 42? 36 4=2DD:7:65 2Di “=:89E[” E96 C2E6 @7 72== G2CJ:?8 36EH66? 2 EC246 2?5 _]`_ :?49 A6C 9@FCj “>@56C2E6[” 7C@> _]`` E@ _]b_ :?49 A6C 9@FCj 2?5 “962GJ[” _]b_ :?49 A6C 9@FC]k^Am

kAm#646?E @3D6CG2E:@?D 2?5 DEF5:6D DF886DE D9:7ED :? C2:?72== :?E6?D:EJ] p C646?E DEF5J :?G6DE:82E65 52:=J AC64:A:E2E:@? :?E6?D:EJ 5:DEC:3FE:@? 7C@> `hd`–`hg_ 2?5 `hh`–a_a_] xE 8C@FA65 E96 52E2 7@C E96D6 EH@ b_\J62C E:>6 A6C:@5D 244@C5:?8 E@ `f 4=:>2E6 C68:@?D @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] #68:@?D :? E96 46?EC2= 2?5 62DE6C? &]$] D9@H 2 4@?D:DE6?E :?4C62D6 :? 2G6C286 AC64:A:E2E:@? 2?5 :ED G2C:23:=:EJ] r92?86D 2C6 >:I65 :? E96 H6DE6C? &]$] %96 DEF5J 2=D@ BF2?E:7:65 2 D9:7E :? E96 ?F>36C @7 =@H AC64:A:E2E:@? 6G6?ED E@ E96 ?F>36C @7 9:896C :?E6?D:EJ 6G6?ED]k^Am

kAmr92?86D :? E96 C2:?72== 5:DEC:3FE:@? 92D :>A=:42E:@?D 7@C H2E6C >2?286>6?E[ 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 A@E6?E:2= 7=@@5 C:D<] }~pp’D DFDE2:?65 @3D6CG2E:@?D 2?5 C6D62C49 2C6 4C:E:42= E@ @3D6CG:?8 2?5 F?56CDE2E:?8 H9J 6IEC6>6 6G6?ED 2C6 492?8:?8 ?@H 2?5 9@H E96J >2J 492?86 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am

Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin are professors in the University of Wisconsin-Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Email stevea@ssec.wisc.edu or jemarti1@wisc.edu to reach them.