Cool, Damp Start to August

Continuing the cool trend for the summer (year?) of 2014, the eastern seaboard turns the calendar to August with cool temps and lots of moisture.  While parts of Va. were dry for July, my tirehouse in the north central piedmont received 5 inches of rain for the month and as a bonus, had quite a few days start with temperatures in the 50's - the 50's in July!!!  It won't be that cool this weekend but with clouds and all the moisture being pulled up from the gulf and in from the Atlantic daytime highs are likely to remain in the 70's - the summertime version of the polar vortex with the dipping jet stream continues to dominate the east coast.
In the western US, high temps and no rain has pushed historic drought conditions to even more extreme levels raising fire concerns across the region and affecting food prices and soon availability across this country...and around the world; the west coast of the US feeds a large percentage of the planet.  Unfortunately, long term forecasts show little change in the pattern.
But, there will be change, it's Earth and that has been the rule for 4.5 billion years; change happens.  Humans seem to think the change happens on our time scale (quarterly for corporate interests worldwide) but looking at the record written in the rock of the planet, that is not the case.  Earth's weather changes daily but climate trends are on a whole other scale and while we predict and argue and affect the long term trends they continue, Earth doing what it does, today and everyday.  Enjoy todays spin around!!