East Alabama gets its fair share of rain

By: Donathan Prater Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: October 28, 2009

You can let your umbrella down today, but it might be a good idea to keep it handy tomorrow.
More rain is on the way later this week, according to WRBL chief meteorologist Bob Jeswald.
“The rainfall this current weather system is producing will likely taper off overnight and give us a short break on Wednesday with some possible sunshine, but the wet weather pattern will return on Thursday and possibly last through the weekend,” Jeswald said.
The rainfall Tuesday was the latest in what has been a much more frequent shower pattern for the region this year, according to Jeswald.
“Since Jan. 1, we’ve had more than 46 inches of rainfall in central Alabama,” Jeswald said. “Normal rainfall numbers for this time of year would be around 44 inches. When it comes to rain for the year, we’ve seen our fair share.”
Elsewhere in the state the numbers are even better. The Birmingham area received as much as 14 more inches of rain this year than at this time last year, according to National Weather Service Birmingham meteorologist Tara Golden. Golden said as of March 2009, all drought conditions were lifted in Alabama.
While the state is not currently under any drought watches or warnings, the increased rainfall should prove beneficial in helping to recharge basins, lakes and aquifers in the region, according to Jeswald.
“If we experience another El Nino weather pattern next year, the additional rain we’re getting now might help us deal with it better,” Jeswald said.
Even with the surplus rainfall, Jeswald still encourages sound water conservation practices.