Claim The Earth
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · 11:25 AM
Watch and listen
Lyrics
Mild, sunny days and cool, clear nights will continue through the weekend. No rain for the foreseeable future. Drought conditions are going to worsen. The broad midlevel ridge locks over the continental United States like a tombstone in the sky. Northwesterly flow aloft starves the lower levels, stripping every atom of its humidity. An altocumulus deck drifts across Middle Tennessee, bleeding ghost rain that evaporates before reaching the soil. The surface heats to the mid seventies while the entire atmospheric column desiccates into ash. This is a persistence forecast with no end. What you see is what you get. The warm dry air creates a deadly flame. Fire will claim the earth. Less than five percent chance of rain for the next seven days and beyond. The atmosphere refuses to mourn, offering only pleasant sunshine to mask the rotting vegetation. Drought conditions worsen as the sun beats down without a single drop of mercy. Any spark that catches will consume everything in its path. What you see is what you get! Less than five percent! Fire will claim the earth! Fire will claim the earth!
The forecast discussion
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 1125 AM CDT Tue Oct 20 2026
- Mild, sunny days and cool, clear nights will continue through the weekend.
- No rain for the foreseeable future.
Drought conditions are going to worsen.
SHORT TERM
(Rest of today through Wednesday) Issued at 1031 AM CDT Tue Oct 20 2026
Another cool, dry, and sunny day is underway across Middle TN. This morning's upper air soundings placed a broad midlevel ridge over the eastern CONUS, resulting in this prolonged period of dry weather.
The column is extremely dry in the low levels, which will prevent any light radar returns from the incoming altoCu deck from reaching the ground.
Northwesterly flow aloft will help keep moisture very low while abundant sunshine heats the surface to the mid 70s for the next few days.
While this is quite pleasant for the general population, this combination of warm and very dry air also creates elevated fire danger, which is our primary concern for the next week or so.
LONG TERM
(Wednesday Night through next Tuesday) Issued at 1031 AM CDT Tue Oct 20 2026
This is a persistence forecast like no other; what you see is what you get for at least the next 7 days.
With ongoing drought and no rain in sight, dry fuels and dry air have our guard up for fire danger for the rest of this week and maybe even into the weekend.
The midlevel ridge over the eastern CONUS will persist for the foreseeable future, resulting in mild days and cool nights with less than 5% chance of rain.
Again, lovely for most people but comes as a double-edged sword with a risk of fire danger.
Any fires that start will have a much easier time spreading under these conditions.
Drought WILL continue to worsen across the state and fire danger will likely increase the longer we go without rain.