Rain may set records in Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Poplar Bluff's precipitation during the past six months surpassed the previous 12 months and nearly equaled the average annual amount.

According to the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., the precipitation totaled 43.85 inches from Dec. 1 through May 31. This is about 1.3 inches more than the 42.58 inches received from Dec. 1, 2006, through Nov. 30, and only 3.3 inches below the yearly average of 47.14 for the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000.

The six-month total is 15.75 inches, 56 percent more than the same period a year ago. It also is 19.35 inches, 79 percent, above the average of 24.4 inches for the same six months. The six-month total also is nearly 93 percent of the average annual rainfall.

Poplar Bluff received 8.59 inches of rain in December, 3.15 in January, 5.36 in February, 12.81 in March, 8.52 in April and 5.42 in May.

The heavy rainfall March 18 and 19 caused a record crest of 22.15 feet on the Black River and overflowed the levee at several places.

Farmers have been delayed in planting their crops, but have been making progress with the recent warmer and dry weather.

For the first five months of 2008, the precipitation has totaled 35.26 inches, 74.5 percent of the 30-year average.

The Midwestern Regional Climate Center reported 34.75 inches fell at the KLID radio station in Poplar Bluff.

"This is the fourth wettest year through May in Poplar Bluff," said Dave Purdy, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service at Paducah. His comments are based on Midwestern Regional Climate Center records since 1893.

The wettest first five-month period was in 1927 when 44.58 inches fell.

"It was the wettest March with 12.96 inches," Purdy said. The previous highest amount in March was 12.81 inches in 1893.

"It was the 10th wettest April with 8.52 inches," said Purdy, who added December also was the 10th wettest.

This spring has been cooler than a year ago. The average high temperature in May was 76 -- three degrees below normal.

While there was no freeze like in April 2007, a low temperature of 34 degrees April 29 tied the record low, which had previously occurred in 1934, 1961 and 1992.