Wet and getting wetter

[John Farley]

Yet another Flash Flood Watch has been issued for the St. Louis area. Even before this storm, we are now in the wettest period of two consecutive calendar years on record, and it is likely we will add substantially to this year's total with this approaching storm.

Last year was the wettest on record in STL, with total precipitation of 57.96 inches. This year is currently the 10th wettest on record, with 48.61 inches. That makes a total of 106.57 inches for 2008 and 2009, and will certainly be adding to that. Once, in 1984 and 85, St. Louis had two consecutive years with over 50 inches of precipitation, but the total for those years, at 102.38 inches, was less than the 2008-09 total even before this approaching storm. I suspect 2009 will end up somewhere in the range of 5th to 7th wettest year on record, but we already have the wettest two consecutive calendar year period on record, even before the upcoming storm. Incidentally, six of the ten wettest years on record have been since 1980.

 

[Jason Foster]

Sounds like the N.American Inland sea is trying to reform.

 

[John Farley]

Update to my post at the start of the thread - after the rain and snow over the last 5 days, this year's total STL precipitation is now up to 50.84 inches, making this year the 5th wettest on record. Combined with last year's wettest-ever total, the total precipitation since January 1, 2008 now comes to 108.80 inches - more than 6.4 inches above the 1984-85 total, the previous record for two calendar years.

Here's to a drier year in 2010 - but of course with some good storms!

 

[Mike Smith]

While I posted this in another thread, it is pertinent here: http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2009/12/above-normal-early-winter-snow-cover.html

In ICT, 2008 was the wettest year ever. 2007 + 2008 were the wettest consecutive years ever. As of today, 2009 is 7.22" above normal. I don't know how we will rank for three-year precipitation, but it wouldn't surprise me if we are in the top 5.

There are a lot of areas where subsoil moisture is saturated even before the snow melts. I am getting very concerned about spring flooding if we continue to have an active storm track.

 

[Mike Smith]

And, it turns out we will set a record for the wettest three years in Wichita's history:

1) 2007-2009: 129.25 Inches
2) 1949-1951: 119.52 Inches
3) 1997-1999: 117.15 Inches

Thank you ICT NWS.

Mike

 

[Jonathan Behle]

It has been incredibly wet around here (Kansas) since 2007. One other note that got my attention is how New Orleans set its all time wettest month ever in December 2009. I always thought an area on the gulf coast prone to tropical storms and hurricanes would break that record during the hurricane season. Spring flooding could be a major concern across many areas in 2010

 

[Mike Smith]

If you look at the ICT data above, you'll note that the second wettest three years is 1949 to 1951. The all time record flood in Kansas occurred in the summer of 1951 with more info here: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/waterwatch/flood/fld51.photos.html

Some of these records were broken in 1993, but a number of them still stand. Given that we are currently running ten inches ahead of that three year period and with an El Nino pointing toward a wetter-than-average spring, I am very worried about spring/summer flooding over a large geographic area of the Central and, perhaps, Southeast U.S.

 

[John Farley]

The year's final total precipitation, 50.92 inches, keeps 2009 the 5th wettest year on record in St. Louis. The two-year record precipitation in 2008-09 turns out to be the case not only in St. Louis, but statewide in MO in terms of average statewide precipitation:

http://climate.missouri.edu/

This link is probably time-sensitive.