How wet's it been in West Georgia lately?? (extremely)

[JetMaxx]

No wonder it's currently a steam bath outside my home west of Atlanta (84.2° F/ humidity 70%/ dewpoint 74°

Look at the rainfall amounts I've measured lately:

Rainfall in July: 8.37"
Rainfall in June: 15.23"
Rainfall in May: 9.79"

A total of 33.39" of rain has fallen here in less than three months....and normal for the three month period May-July is around 12-13"...so we've had nearly 3 times normal precip the past 90 days :o

In addition, 48.12" of rain has been measured at my location since January 1st (and normal annual precip in Douglasville is only 50.48" -- so we've experienced a years worth in 7 months :o

Last autumn and early winter was also extremely wet in this area....since September 1st, 2002...a whopping 77.19" of rain has falled at this location; or around 30" inches (or 2 1/2 feet) above normal. :o :o

PW

[Constructionwx]

Unless I misunderstood Kirk Meluish this AM, there are parts of GA that have already had 90" for the year :o :o

Correct me if I am wrong on that, just heard it out of the corner of my ear.

I've recorded just over 36" at my location. That's about a foot shy of your total, but still running above average.

[Stormsfury]

That's a very common theme across the Southeast this year...looking at some estimated totals for the first 7 months in GA and SC are generally averaging anywhere from 30"-60" already ... and 1 year totals are showing up quite phenomenal. Some places, as ConstructionWx already posted over 90", with a general 70"-80" for a fiscal one year total. :o

SF

[JetMaxx]

Yeah...and serious hurricane season is just about to begin for the southeast and Gulf coast :o :o

[Stormsfury]

Yeah...and serious hurricane season is just about to begin for the southeast and Gulf coast :o :o

Yep, typical the last 5 years ... feast or famine.

Interestingly enough ... Hurricanes Bertha, Fran, Dennis, Floyd, and Irene in the 1998-1999 season came during the incipient years of the long-term drought ... and actually left North Carolina on the dividing line of drought-deluge.

There was practically nothing, tropicalwise, except Allison in 2001 which moved across the Southeast, which only brought temporary relief to the drought, which, by that timeframe was fully-established and only got worse in the first half of 2002.

Then came the pattern change. And the rest is rainfall history.

SF

[Constructionwx]

And the $64,000 question

Will the precip last through the fall and winter?

With the exception of January, it was a very wet winter here.

Does anyone see the pattern changing? Any teleconnection guru's see anything?

[JetMaxx]

Sorry RP, but I'm not that intelligent (duh!

My guess is it will stay wet for a couple years...at least. The drought lasted from Sept 98' to August 02', so I look for the excessive rainfall period to last another year or two (or longer).

I remember back in 99' when venturing to Oregon to see my new nephew, and nearly froze to death -- leaving 98° dry, dusty Atlanta and flew into a frozen July tundra that looked like "Land of the Lost" -- snow all over the mountains...and the only time in my life I've seen it snow after April (at Timberline Lodge on July 2nd)...or wore a jacket while watching July 4th fireworks (several Portland residents told me it was the chilliest July 4th they'd seen in many years).

This year everything's flip-flopped. While we almost drown and haven't reached 90° yet -- today little sis in Portland experienced 100°+ heat for the the sixth day this summer....hit 102° there yesterday and 101° at her home today.

[GAStorm]

Just wondering does anyone think that this winter will make up for years of no significant winters in the southeast? I think it is only a matter of time before we really see a paralyzing snowfall especially after an active hurricane season. Just a thought since it seems like the gulf is bound to open up in the colder months!

[PerficktGurl]

I don't know how much rain has fallen at my home, but heard a Carrollton radio station report several days ago that over 50 inches of rain has fell in portions of Carroll and Heard county just to my west since New Years 2003.

[Stormsfury]

Just wondering does anyone think that this winter will make up for years of no significant winters in the southeast? I think it is only a matter of time before we really see a paralyzing snowfall especially after an active hurricane season. Just a thought since it seems like the gulf is bound to open up in the colder months!

Well, if the general pattern holds until winter ... I would say yes, but ... generally, this kind of pattern doesn't last over a year.

In regards to an active Tropical Season ... this concerns me quite a bit, actually ... especially in regards to potential flooding rains already on top of the saturated Southeast ... as JetMaxx, and others have alluded to, a lot of rivers are above flood stage already, and the grounds are super-saturated from all the rain ... an Allison-like storm, or Alberto, will likely cause a catastrophic flood situation ...

Edit: Current Palmer Moisture Index



SF

[GAStorm]

Hey SF,

I just noticed you posted this after I started a new thread. I guess I am hoping for another cold and stormy winter since last winter didn't give us anything but a dusting of snow. I do keep up with hurricanes as well, but I am always keeping up with upcoming winter predictions since I love the snow. Anyway, thanks for your post!

[GAStorm]

Well, if the general pattern holds until winter ... I would say yes, but ... generally, this kind of pattern doesn't last over a year.

In regards to an active Tropical Season ... this concerns me quite a bit, actually ... especially in regards to potential flooding rains already on top of the saturated Southeast ... as JetMaxx, and others have alluded to, a lot of rivers are above flood stage already, and the grounds are super-saturated from all the rain ... an Allison-like storm, or Alberto, will likely cause a catastrophic flood situation ...

That is definitely a scary picture if any tropical systems make their way here! :o I think there will be a really good chance at seeing some serious flooding even without a tropical system!