Summer showers sufficient so far

Labor Day weekend marked the unofficial end of summer. And for the first time in a long, long time, at the end of summer 2009, the region’s rainfall totals are on the plus side of the local annual average.

Northern Piedmont Research Center Superintendent Dave Starner said plentiful rains early in the summer brought Orange out of the longstanding rainfall deficit.

“We got ahead in May and we just stayed ahead until the last three weeks or so,“ Starner said. “We’ve been three inches ahead until we started getting less rainfall in July or August.“

Big summer storms in May and June were to thank for the season’s rainfall totals. Starner said some areas in the county’s eastern end experienced absolute deluges of rain, “tremendous amounts,“ when the skies opened up along the Rapidan.

Whether agricultural producers got soakings or sprinkles earlier in the growing season, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent Steve Hopkins said 2009’s spring showers weren’t particularly easy on corn.

“The wet weather in April and May damaged some corn particularly corn planted along river or creek bottoms,“ Hopkins said. But there’s plenty of hay to be had, for once.

“Hay yields have been excellent and pasture conditions have been very good,“ he added.

Looking forward into fall and winter, Hopkins predicted trouble for growers if the area doesn’t get another good dose of rainfall.

“The second half of summer has been dry and could present some problems going into the fall if we do not get some rainfall in the next few weeks. This is the time of year when we need to stockpile grass growth in our pastures for late fall and early winter grazing,“ Hopkins explained. “Small grain and grass seeding will also begin in a few weeks and will need rainfall to be successful.“

Maybe a meteorological anomaly this summer was the less-than-oppressive heat and humidity. This year’s dog days didn’t bark nearly as loud as usual. In fact, July’s average temperatures were lower than August’s according to Starner.
That was good news for folks who work outdoors, Hopkins said, as well as for animals and plants.

“The lower-than-average summer temperatures have been beneficial for most crops, livestock, and farmers,“ he said.
Midway through the Atlantic hurricane season, the region still stands to get soaked-or worse. Historically, the late summer/early fall hurricane season has brought the region its share of over-topped rain gauges, high-cresting rivers and flash flooding. Locals won’t forget September 2003’s Hurricane Isabel anytime soon, who, even downgraded to a tropical storm, rearranged county topography with her furious rain and howling winds.

And in fact, some of the state’s most memorable floods and rainfalls have hit during late summer. According to National Weather Service data, the biggest cloudburst on record occurred in Gloucester on Aug. 24, 1906, when 9.25 inches of fell on just 40 minutes. It was in August also, when Hurricane Camille, now considered the worst natural disaster in the state’s history, brought upwards of 30 inches of rain in a 12-hour period. Epic mudslides carved scars in the sides of mountains and catastrophic flooding killed more than 100 people, wiping out entire communities in the Piedmont foothills county. Closer to home, Hurricane Fran dropped enough rain into the Rapidan in September 1996 to cause the river to crest at 27.5’. That’s 13.5’ over flood stage.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences Commissioner Todd P. Haymore said while the commonwealth hasn’t seen much rainfall as a result of hurricanes yet this year, residents shouldn’t let their guard down. According to Haymore, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts as many as six hurricanes in 2009. Those could have devastating or even deadly effects if folks don’t prepare properly.

“Hopefully Virginia residents now have an emergency kit with flashlights and batteries, drinking water for humans and pets, medications, emergency numbers, first aid kit, dust masks and a supply of food to last three or four days,“ Haymore said. Additionally, Haymore recommended developing evacuation plans and communicating with family members and neighbors-before there’s an emergency.

Other state agencies are concentrating on Virginians’ readiness in the event of a disaster. In fact, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) announced that September is National Preparedness Month, and reminded citizens of the Ready Virginia program, which educates Virginians about what it truly means to be ready for disasters and emergencies.

Michael Cline, state coordinator for the VDEM recommended assembling three days’ worth of packaged foods, water, a battery-powered radio and a written family emergency plan.

“This list is a good starting point,“ Cline said. “You can add other things such as a flashlight and first aid kit, but everyone should have the basics - three days of food and water, a battery-powered radio and a family plan. Get those things first, and you’ll be well on your way to getting ready for emergencies.“

Folks can get tips for hurricane preparedness and information about how to be ready if disaster strikes at Ready Virginia, http://www.readyvirginia.gov.