So much for a cool wet El Niño summer in the Great Lakes/Midwest. The climates gone crazy. The norms aren’t norms anymore. Throw analogs out the window.

Like so much else, it's probably a combination of factors including those you mention -- troughs that don't dig as far south; less onshore flow when they do; lower soil moisture -- and perhaps some we don't yet understand. All I know is, I want my 20th Century climo summers back!

Give him some scooby snacks for me. Hope he recovers well :(

Something to watch. It's been a quiet beginning to the warm season lightning-wise

Sodo Mojo!