|
“This is usually one of the drier times of
the year. Farmers count on that going into harvest time. Hopefully we won’t
have too serious of a situation on our hands.”
Tom Priddy
UK College of Agriculture Meteorologist
|
By Aimee D. Heald
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2003) – Kentuckians are getting used to hearing
about record-setting weather this year -- 2003 has been anything but average or
normal.
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Meteorologist Tom Priddy said the
period from April through August goes down as the second wettest on record.
“August rainfall ranked 11th wettest in 109 years,” he said. “But when combined
with the previous 4 months, April through August rainfall was 28.55 inches,
making it the second-wettest April through August period in 109 years.
After a cooler-than-average summer, August temperatures finally reversed the
cool pattern with a lengthy period of warmer-than-normal temperatures. However
the wet weather pattern continued.
The wettest April through August was in 1979 with 29.16 inches. Projections were
for near-normal rainfall going into September but remnants of tropical storm
Grace dumped more rain on the already soaked Commonwealth in the first week of
the month.
Corn and soybean harvest usually begins in the third week of September, so
farmers will be looking for drier conditions.
“This is usually one of the drier times of the year,” Priddy said. “Farmers
count on that going into harvest time. Hopefully we won’t have too serious of a
situation on our hands.”
Priddy said drier, cooler air should settle into the region making way for near
normal rainfall and temperatures for the rest of the September.
Writer: Aimee
D. Heald 859-257-4736, ext. 267
Source: Tom
Priddy 859-257-3000, ext. 245
Return to Main News page. |
