We finally got a decent rain here in northwest Georgia. According to one of the Atlanta TV weather people, Rome received just under an inch. According to our rain gauge, we got exactly one inch.
I had bought a new rain gauge shortly after we moved in but never bothered to set it out. I figured there was no point since it was never going to rain again. But when the weather forecasters started getting excited about a real possibility of rain, I decided to install it on the railing of our front stairs. We recorded about a third of an inch before we went to bed and another two-thirds of an inch later in the night. This was exactly the kind of rain we needed, fairly gentle but sustained.
I think it’s possible we got slightly more than the gauge showed. It was very windy all day Monday and it stayed windy when the rain first started. It rained for a while before the gauge started registering. The collection port on the gauge is fairly small, and I think the wind could have prevented an accurate measure. However, the gauge is not calibrated yet, so it’s hard to know for sure. Given the widespread nature of the rain this time and the official measurement, I think an inch is a pretty good estimate. We’re still about a foot lower than average at this time of year.
According to the news reports, the rain gave firefighters some significant help in northern Georgia, although the fires are not completely contained. If you saw the national news, you know that fires a little north of us in Tennessee caused significant property damage and some loss of life near Great Smokey Mountains National Park.
The forecasters are pretty sure we’re going to get more rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The wind blew away most of the wheat straw I spread on Saturday, so we have lots of mud around the house. I can live with that.
We’re in the second of two days of gentle, steady rain here in the northern Piedmont today. Though we’re not a foot below normal like you, we are very, very dry and can use the rain, too. The fires in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge sounded terrible.
The fires actually started in the park – Chimney Tops has one of the best trails there, and Newfound Gap Road, closed by the blaze, runs through it. Gatlinburg was hit very hard, Pigeon Forge much less so but still damaged. The rain we got Monday was too little and way too late. Today’s rain has been steady since around 10 last night, and that has helped; also the winds were gusting to only about 60 instead of 87 mph, which is what really jump started the Gatlinburg fire.
Really glad to know you got measurable rainfall there. Sure hope it keeps up in a manageable way, so you can move past the fiery drought conditions. We have a rain gauge here too. I love going out in the morning to see what’s happened over night!
Scott — This was a serious drought. I will be looking carefully next year to see whether any of the trees on the mountain didn’t make it.
Karen — I heard on the news that the fires around the Smokies may have been human caused. The aftermath leaves me speechless.
Robin — I got my rain gauge up and running just in time. It looks like our dry weather patten may be over. I certainly hope so.