Good morning,
Mother nature put your business’s roof and drainage system to the test in 2018.
The National Weather Service is reporting that 2018 was the wettest year ever in northern Delaware.
The preliminary figure released by the Weather Service was a whopping 61.37 inches in Wilmington.
The 2018 figure edged out the previous record of 61.05 inches recorded in 1945. Records for Wilmington date back to 1894.
Normal precipitation between 1981 and 2010 averaged 43.08 inches. That compares to Seattle’s average rainfall of about 37 inches.
The difference is that Seattle and Portland, Oregon have more rainy days, but fewer days with heavy rain. Wilmington even edged out Juneau, Alaska, which averages 54 inches of precipitation – basically Seattle on steroids.
It could have been worse. The Weather Service reported that preliminary precipitation figures for Reading, PA and Atlantic City were about three inches greater than the previous record. AC’s previous record was about 66 inches, with Reading at 61.
The persistent rainfall slowed down construction projects like the 301-toll road around Middletown, cut crop production, and triumphed over drainage systems on flood-prone streets. While yields turned out OK, farmers often had to plant corn more than once.
The wet weather pattern is likely to return on Saturday. On the plus side, it offers an excuse to not take down the holiday decorations.
Longer term, we could see more bouts of wet weather, if the most recent federal report on climate change is any indication.
Also likely is hotter summer weather. Climate change skeptics remained unconvinced.
On that happy note, enjoy a dry Thursday. The newsletter winds up a shorter workweek tomorrow. – Doug Rainey, publisher.
