A Two-Foot Turnaround In Local Precipitation

Published 6:08 pm Thursday, December 19, 2013

The last 12 months have seen a 23.21-inch precipitation rebounding turnaround for the area.

This month began with 14.63 inches of precipitation above what is average for the first 11 months in a year, a whopping surplus, especially compared with the 8.58-inch deficit the area experienced at the same time in 2012.

Virtually a two-foot difference, according to data collected and disseminated by WFLO, the official National Weather Cooperative Observer for the area.

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The wells are alive with the sound of water, as are streams and rivers.

We had above-average precipitation in November, which built on October’s falling drops of rain, and December’s been a sodden mess.

These words from the Department of Environmental Quality’s October Drought Status report are music to our faucets:

“Precipitation across most of Virginia during early October caused a return to normal or near-normal hydrological conditions after a relatively dry September. Stream flows and ground water levels are in the normal to above normal range.”

Last year was so dry that in November of 2012 we reported that DEQ had decided to maintain its Drought Watch status for the Appomattox River basin despite the heavy rain impact of Hurricane Sandy. Significant rainfall deficits continued across the central piedmont region.

At this time last year, in fact, the drought situation had gotten worse, with DEQ expanding a Drought Watch declaration to include the Middle James River basin here in our region because “precipitation, stream flows and ground water levels continued to decline throughout November (of 2012), during a time when rebounds normally occur.”

We are rebounding our weather like Kareem Abdul Jabbar this fall.

So as we begin to look back on the blessings 2013 has seen us receive, don’t have a deficit of thanks for the surplus of rainfall we’ve seen drop from the sky during the past 11 months.

Let us all drink and share a toast to that good fortune.

The way December’s precipitation has fallen so heavily and so often, we best empty our cups quickly so we can use them to bail out all the things we don’t want filled with water.

—JKW—