Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

August Rainfall 2.55 Inches Below Normal

BY JOHN MILLER

News flash: August was hot and dry.

There's a real scoop.

According to John W. Teeter, local weatherman, only a scant 0.68 of an inch of rain fell during the month.

Normally, August sees 3.23 inches of wet stuff hit the ground, but with the prevailing drought conditions, the area was 2.55 inches short this year.

Still, because of wet weather earlier this year, the region is up 2.47 inches. The normal amount of rainfall for the first eight months of the year is 34.72 inches, with 37.19 inches having fallen thus far.

The southern part of Nevada County was a bit more fortunate with rainfall, but only a little bit. Davis Benton, who watches the skies in Cale, said this part of the county got 0.88 of an inch of rain.

All of it fell in one day, Aug. 27.

For the year, he said, the area has received 33.73 inches.

Teeter said it rained two days during August in Prescott. But, the largest single day total occurred on Aug. 28, when 0.56 inches fell.

Only one watch was issued during the month as well, he said. This is two below the normal of three.

Then again, when it doesn't rain, there's little chance of severe weather conditions occurring.

Teeter said the watch was posted the night of Aug. 27 and morning of Aug. 28, when continuous thunder and lightning was going on.

And it was hot. Teeter said August recorded 13 days with the mercury climbing to 100 or more.

Benton said the temperature in Cale topped 90 degrees every day during the month, hitting 100 degrees 15 times. The high in Cale was 108 on Aug. 19.

Teeter said the average daily temperature in Prescott was 98.9, five full degrees above the norm of 93.9.

The hottest it got in town, he said, was 107 on Aug. 20. The lowest temperature recorded was 64, occurring on Aug. 15.

Teeter is gathering data from 1930, 1954 and 1980 on hot days. "I think you will feel cooler when you read of the heat during these years," Teeter said. "I hope to have this data ready to publish in a few days.

"We are pleased to note the Shreveport, La., weather service is again publishing a quarterly newsletter. All of us cooperatives welcome this publication."

Everyone should get a break on the temperature during September, according to Teeter. He said the average daily temp is 75.9 degrees, a full 23 degrees below August's blistering heat wave.

As far as rainfall is concerned, he said the normal amount for the ninth month is 3.47 inches.