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Storms in 2005 Put Rain Gear Through Wringer: Sky Dumps Nearly 90 Inches of Rain on Area, Ranking 2005 Second Behind 1975.

Posted on: Monday, 2 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Isaac Sabetai, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Jan. 2--With the weather forecast showing thunderstorms possible today, it appears that 2006 might continue where 2005 left off.

This past year was the second rainiest year on record since 1940 when Eglin Air Force Base began tracking the data. Nearly 90 inches of rain fell on Okaloosa County in 2005. That puts the year's rainfall total firmly in second place behind 1975's 104.4 inches and ahead of 1947's 82.5 inches.

"In the spring some fronts came down and stalled on the coast," said Jack Cullen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mobile. "Usually they sweep on through. But they stuck around and dumped lots of rain."

The rain left its mark in many places besides leaky roofs. It slowed down the road construction process but helped farmers, who were hoping for a strong year after Hurricane Ivan decimated their crops in 2004.

The rain also had a hand in influencing temperatures throughout the region. During the spring it was cooler than normal thanks to 14.6 inches of rain in March and 19.4 inches in April. Both of those were monthly records.

"It was the coolest April on record," said Maj. James Mackey, operations manager with the 46th Weather Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base. "The temperature was driven down by all the precipitation."

It was during the spring that the rain took a toll on road construction. Florida Department of Transportation spokesman Tommie Speights said several road projects were delayed thanks to the rain.

"It definitely affects construction projects," Speights said. "Any time the soil gets wet, you have to wait until it dries."

Speights said the rain can keep crews off the job for longer than most people would think.

"It depends on how much rain you get," Speights said. "It could shut you down anywhere from a short while to a week."

For all the precipitation that fell in the spring, it dried up toward the end of summer and early fall, which produced 24 consecutive days where the mercury measured at least 90 degrees, according to Mackey. Not by coincidence, just 0.2 inches of rain fell in October.

The lack of rain in the fall and average numbers in winter pleased farmers. Last year, most cotton and peanuts were destroyed after Hurricane Ivan blew through the area. This year, Hurricane Katrina spared most farms in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

However, the storm inflicted heavy damage in Santa Rosa County.

Jeff Barber, executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in Okaloosa and Walton counties, was encouraged by the harvest this year.

"It was a very good year," Barber said. "The rain came at the right time."

The rain fell when the crops were young and in the ground and generally stayed away when they were mature and ready to be picked.

As for 2006, forecasters said it was too early to tell how much rain would fall. Early indications show that there will be another active tropical season. But beyond that, no one appears to be making any wagers.

"Next year it may be the driest," Cullen said. "There are many factors that influence it. You might as well throw darts at a dartboard."

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Copyright (c) 2006, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Northwest Florida Daily News

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