May’s downpours just getting us to normal

Posted May 26, 2009 by TBO.com

Updated May 26, 2009 at 09:20 AM

It’s pretty easy to look at the daily deluges and figure all our rain problems are over. But the hefty rainfall amounts for May will probably just bring West Central Florida close to its normal rainfall amounts for 2009 and for the past 12 months. And the rain certainly can’t erase the 30-inch shortfall that’s built up since 2006.

Rain measurements at dozens of stations operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District show that on April 30 every county was far below normal for the year and for the past 12 months. Actually, “far below” is a little understated. Pathetic might be better.

We’re talking about the water management sites because their wide distribution offers a far better picture of the region’s rain than the single measurement at Tampa International Airport that the National Weather Service uses for the official reading.

From Jan. 1 through April 30 in 2009, every county from Manatee north to Hernando and inland to Polk received less than half its normal rain.

The picture was a little better looking at the 12 months ending April 30. During that period,  Hillsborough received 69 percent of its normal rain; Pasco, 67 percent. Pinellas stood at 72 percent, while Polk and Hernando hovered at 70 percent.

Some places, such as Hernando and Lake counties, have received more rain so far in May than they normally see the first four months of the year. Every county in the water management district except Levy has received more rain so far in May than the total that fell in the past four months, so the total numbers are sure to change dramatically once May is over with.