By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
With the exception of May, local rainfall totals in the Madison area each month in 2002 have been below normal.
Weather officials from the National Weather Service Office in Birmingham said the month of June was the seventh driest month on record since the service began keeping records in 1958.
In 2001, above-average rainfall amounts during the months of May, June and July put the area at more than five inches above normal.
"During the month of May 2002, the Madison area recorded 5.93 inches of rain. That is slightly above the normal amount of rainfall the area normally experiences – which is 5.24 inches," said Krissy Hurley. "May has been the only month so far during 2002 that has experienced above-average rainfall."
Only 1.85 inches of rain was recorded during the month of June and to date, 3.39 inches of rain has been recorded during the month of July. The normal amount of rainfall during the month of June is 4.22 inches and the normal amount of rainfall during the month of July is 4.40 inches. All of Madison County received rain during the weekend of July 12-14. More than 3.3 inches of rain was recorded at Huntsville International Airport during that time period. Additional, spotty thunderstorms were experienced in Madison County during the week of July 15-19.
To date, only 25.94 inches of rain has been recorded in the area since January. The normal amount of rainfall to date is 33.22 inches.
"All we're seeing lately is spotty, afternoon thunderstorms in the Madison County area and if you are lucky to get one, you're lucky," Hurley said.
The months of June and July are usually considered dry and dry weather patterns also occur in late September and October, with the month of October considered the driest month of the year statewide.
Rainfall statistics for the Huntsville area – January through June.
January 4.98 inches recorded – Normal 5.52 inches
February 2.26 inches recorded – Normal 4.95 inches
March 5.82 inches recorded – Normal 6.68 inches
April 1.71 inches recorded – Normal 4.54 inches
May 5.93 inches recorded – Normal 5.24 inches
June 1.85 inches recorded – Normal 4.22 inches
July 3.36 inches recorded- Normal 4.40 inches
Driest Junes on record since 1958
1988 .17 inches recorded
1968 .77 inches recorded
1971 1.34 inches recorded
1998 1.41 inches recorded
1993 1.56 inches recorded
1991 1.72 inches recorded
2002 1.85 inches recorded