Rainfall not breaking drought
4 days of precipitation produces less than 2 inches of rain in area

By Seth Burkett
sburkett@decaturdaily.com · 340-2355

Decatur has received more than 11/2 inches of rain this week, according the National Weather Service in Huntsville.

Decatur received only a few hundredths of an inch of rain after 12 a.m. Thursday, but more light showers were headed into the area at about 9 p.m., said Robert Boyd, a weather service meteorologist.

That made Thursday the fourth rainy day in a row this week. Rain over the past two weeks accounted for most of the 2.28 inches that has fallen so far in October.

"It seems like a lot when you haven't had much for a few years," said weather service meteorologist Jennifer Lee.

The area remains in an exceptional drought, the worst classification used by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Boyd said the remainder of October is expected to be dry, leaving little chance Decatur will hit the three- inch mark before the month ends.

Huntsville has received 24.12 inches of rain so far this year. The city is 21.69 inches behind its yearly average.

Decatur has received 21.45 inches. Lee said Decatur's rain deficit is probably similar to Huntsville's.

The wettest month so far this year was July, when 4.69 inches fell.

The driest month was May, with a paltry 0.17 inches.

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