Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

May Rainfall Above Normal

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, and rain it did during the month of May.

In fact, according to local meteorologist John Teeter, the area received 2.52 inches of rain more than normal for the fifth month of the year.

Usually the region receives 5.10 inches of rain in May, but 7.62 inches fell last month, giving a surplus of 2.52 inches.

However, this doesn't mean there is a surplus of water or moisture. Teeter said the area is still almost three inches below normal for the year.

Through May, he said, this part of the county usually has seen 23.64 inches of rain. But, to date, the actual amount of rain having fallen is 20.66 inches, leaving a deficit of 2.98 inches.

Down in the south part of Nevada County, weatherman Davis Benton said the Cale region received 8.06 inches of rain in May.

This, he said, is the highest monthly total in more than a year. The last time it rained more in a single month was January 1999.

To date, Benton said, Cale has received 22.11 inches of rain, but the area is still about eight inches below normal in rainfall for this time of year.

The largest single day total of rain occurred on May 19, according to Benton, when 2.95 inches fell.

"We got more than an inch of rain on several days," he said, adding it rained 11 days out of the month.

Still, it rained 11 days in May, with the largest single day total being 3.26 inches on May 19.

Unbelievably, there were only two watches or warnings issued, while the normal number is seven for May.

Teeter said the two warnings received probably made up for the shortage in their severity.

On May 5, he said, there was severe cloud to ground lightning, with power outages common. But, he added, there was no serious damage or injury reported.

May 12 brought straight line winds with it. These winds blew down trees, damaged roofs and destroyed at least one poultry house, Teeter said.

The downed trees blocked one state highway and several county roads.

"The local weather center recorded 50 mile per hour winds," Teeter said, "but my hand held wind gauge registered nearly 70 mph winds. The accuracy of this gauge is questionable."

The average daily temperature was also somewhat above normal for the month.

Teeter said the temperature was 72.3 degrees, with the norm being 71.4 degrees.

The mercury climbed to a blistering 92 degrees as the month ended, and saw a low temperature of 48 recorded on May 14 and 15.

According to Benton, the highest the thermometer reached in Cale was 96, while the low for the month was 52. He said there were several days when the temperature was 90 degrees or hotter.

Looking toward June, Teeter said the normal rainfall is 3.99 inches, with the average daily temperature being 78.9 degrees.

In addition, there are usually six weather watches or warnings posted during the month.

"We've been very lucky to miss the worst weather that's hit Arkansas," he said. "Maybe our luck will hold out one more month."