Long Term Rainfall Update

We have often discussed our rain deficit for the year, which at one point was nearly six inches. Thanks to rain over the past couple of days, the rain deficit for the Birmingham metro is down to 3.48”, and should be reduced even more today and tomorrow as additional rain is expected. But, despite the relatively dry conditions this year, in the long term we are in pretty good shape.

Rainfall for the Birmingham metro area has been well above normal for the last four years. Our average annual rainfall here is 53.99 inches, and these are the totals for recent years: 2004: 61.26”, 2003: 65.45”, 2002: 64.43”, 2001: 67.26”. Some quick calculations show that we had a combined surplus of 42.44 inches for those four years!

But, back in 2000, we did suffer from dry weather conditions that led to a critical water shortage in parts of the state. The Birmingham rain total for 2000 was 50.05”, about ten inches below normal. The Birmingham Water Works and Sewer Board imposed a watering ban Sept. 29, 2000 because of critically low water levels at Lake Purdy, the main reservoir. Mountain Brook, Homewood, Hoover and Vestavia Hills also imposed bans, with penalties of up to $500 in fines and up to 180 days in jail. Three local companies and the city's Streets Department truck in nearly 3,000 gallons of water a day, plus 20,000 gallons more a week, from swimming pools, private lakes and even a rock quarry for the thirsty plants at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The dry conditions in 2000 also affected many other cities across the southeast, including Atlanta.

So, we can surely be thankful for the 42.44 inch surplus over the past four years, and thankful for additional rain that falls today and tomorrow that will really help knock out, or maybe even eliminate the deficit for 2005.