Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rainfall In February Nearly 3" Below Normal

Nevada County's burn ban has been lifted for the time being.

According to Nevada County Judge John Barham, last week's rain helped the situation somewhat.

"We got a good rain," Barham said. "I talked to the sheriff, and he said everything had been covered on the south end of the county.

"And people wanted to burn. I felt it was safe enough to lift (the ban) but I may put it back on if it stays dry and the wind keeps blowing."

Barham said some areas of the county received 1.1 inches of rain, while others didn't get as much of the badly needed moisture.

However, last Tuesday's rains washed out one county bridge and damaged two others, Barham said.

Davis Benton, of Cale, reports that area of the county received 1.95 inches of rain for the month of February, along with 0.5 inches of snow, which fell on Feb. 2.

The lowest temperature recorded for the month was 9 degrees, while the highest was 80.

J.W. Teeter, local weatherman, reports the normal rainfall for Feb. should have been 4.27 inches in the Prescott area, but was only 1.4 inches. This means the area was 2.87 inches below normal in rain.

1996 has started off to be a dry year in the county as well. Teeter said the normal rainfall for the first two months of the year should be 8.03 inches.

In fact, only 3.11 inches of rain has fallen, which means the region is already 4.92 inches below what it should be.

"February was another dry month," Teeter said, "at minus 2.87 inches. We are not minus 4.92 inches for the year.

"Adding this to the 1995 shortage of 16.59 inches makes a 14 month water shortage of 21.51 inches."

Rain fell only five days during February, including the snow and sleet on Feb. 2.

Also during the month, there were only two watches or warnings.

The average temperature for the month was 50.1 degrees, 2.90 degrees above normal. However, no records were set.

The highest temperature recorded, according to Teeter, was 84 degrees on Feb. 21. The lowest was 7 on Feb. 4.

The record high for the month is 88, recorded Feb. 20, 1986. The record low, on the other hand, is two below zero, recorded Feb. 10 and 12 of 1962.

The normal amount of rainfall for March, Teeter said, is 5.25 inches, while the average temperature is 55.8 degrees.