So much for our monsoonal-type weather to suddenly stop. A few dry days, and then it’s back to seemingly an endless string of days with rain, showers or t-storms on every day’s weather forecast page, as meteorologists struggle to explain all the things that must align perfectly to create such unusual conditions, and the rest of us tend keep our outdoor activities and chores on hold until things dry out.
The months of March through May, meteorologically speaking, are considered the “Spring” months, the period when we normally get a majority of our annual rainfall. The all-time record for rainfall during this period occurred in 1976 when we had 20.15 inches. So are we actually about to break that record? During this 2011 period, we’ve had precipitation on 57 days during this time, while the same period in Spring 2010 and 1976 saw precip on just 48 days. As we’re averaging 4-6 inches of rain with each new series of rainfall fronts, we could certainly see that old record washed away by month’s end this year.
Of course we certainly aren’t alone here in Chenango County. Vermont is suffering through record breaking rain and flooding, as is the entire Mississippi River drainage system, which means our entire heartland area. Even Australia, a continent known primarily for drought and heat, experienced its worst flooding and wettest spring season on record.