Dear Tom,
It seems that 2009 has had an abundance of precipitation. Is this going to be a record wet year?
Chris Mall
Dear Chris,
Chicago is definitely having a wet 2009, but so far, this year is taking a back seat to 2008 which reigns as Chicago's all-time wettest year with a 50.86-inch precipitation total. Buoyed by September deluges that brought 13.63 inches of rain, 2008 marked the first time that the city's annual precipitation broke the 50-inch barrier, topping the old record of 49.35 inches established in 1983. At October's close precipitation at O'Hare Airport had officially reached 38.61 inches -- nearly 8 inches above normal -- but last year at the end of October the precipitation tally here was 43.28 inches -- 4.67 inches greater. Barring an incredibly wet close to 2009, last year's record should not be eclipsed.
It seems that 2009 has had an abundance of precipitation. Is this going to be a record wet year?
Chris Mall
Dear Chris,
Chicago is definitely having a wet 2009, but so far, this year is taking a back seat to 2008 which reigns as Chicago's all-time wettest year with a 50.86-inch precipitation total. Buoyed by September deluges that brought 13.63 inches of rain, 2008 marked the first time that the city's annual precipitation broke the 50-inch barrier, topping the old record of 49.35 inches established in 1983. At October's close precipitation at O'Hare Airport had officially reached 38.61 inches -- nearly 8 inches above normal -- but last year at the end of October the precipitation tally here was 43.28 inches -- 4.67 inches greater. Barring an incredibly wet close to 2009, last year's record should not be eclipsed.
Tom,
You mentioned a statistic in another blog entry: rainfall frequency. I'm wondering if this year's frequency of rainfall is higher than in 2008. I can remember some large storms in 2008, but I'd think this year's precipitation was much more frequent.
Are there any numbers on yearly frequency?