For the Wet and Weary
Wednesday, January 11th, 2006This cheery news from the Seattle Times
As of this morning, there have been 24 consecutive days of rain recorded at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, a streak that began Dec. 19. Between 12 a.m., Tuesday and 12 a.m. today, 0.94 inches had fallen, with an additional 0.27 inches falling between 12 a.m. and 8 a.m. today, said meteorologist Gary Schneider.
But at least there was sun today. Early in the morning it poured, and then the sun peaked out. Then it rained again, and then the sun came out. There was even–gasp!!!!–blue sky!!! I put on my jacket and ran out, and nearly froze because I assumed it was warm. You know, the sun comes out so you assume its 75 degrees and balmy. But it was still good to get sun on my face, even sun mixed with an icy wind. By the time I finished my short walk, the sun had already disappeared, but at least the rain didn’t start again. However, more rain is predicted. No end in sight in the foreseeable future.
Oh well, just think of that scorched earth burning in Oklahoma and Texas. Think they want to trade?
And for rain afficionados, here’s some historical information on the rain in Seattle:
A wet record
If rain falls today in the Seattle area — and forecasters say it will — it will tie a record for the third-longest streak of consecutive days of rainfall in the region since measurements began being taken at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 1945. Here are the top five stretches of rainfall recorded at Sea-Tac.
No. 1: 33 days Jan. 6-Feb. 7, 1953.
No. 2: 25 days Jan. 28-Feb. 21, 1961.
No. 3: 24 days Nov. 10-Dec. 3, 1953.
No. 4: 23 days Dec. 19, 2005-Jan. 10, 2006.
No. 5: 22 days Dec. 19, 1964-Jan. 8, 1965.*
* From 1891 to 1972, rainfall also was measured at the federal building in Seattle. The longest stretch of consecutive days of rainfall there was 22 days, which occurred twice (Dec. 23, 1949-Jan. 13, 1950, and Jan. 27-Feb. 17, 1893).
Source: National Weather Service