Clarence Fanto reports in the Berkshire Eagle that the storm known as Hurricane Ida barreled into New Orleans and predictions have it dumping rain on our area later in the week. Currently predictions have two to four inches of rain falling here, maybe more in the lower Hudson Valley, around Thursday morning. Alone, that's not especially a lot of rain, but up to seven inches of rain from another former hurricane fell on the ground here locally last week. In Berkshire County, almost 20 inches fell between the end of June through Sunday, close to half of the average total rainfall for the entire year. “We’re seeing warmer temperatures and warmer oceans,” said David R. Easterling, a director of the National Climate Assessment. “So, you have more moisture in the atmosphere that’s able to rain out in these storms.” Read more about this story in the Berkshire Eagle.