WE ARE HAVING A WET YEAR!

We are on a record setting pace to have the most rainfall in Greensboro history. Cumulative totals year-to-date show that we are 10.51 inches above normal for the year 2013. The month of August is 2.68 inches above normal and it's only the 19th day of the month! They say there is a huge Low somewhere down in the Gulf of Mexico that keeps driving moisture up the side of the Appalachians and causing the unusual amount of rain for the year.

Today is a good example of the typical pattern; light rain early and then spotty showers throughout the day for a mere .17 inches. The temperature has been pleasant most of the summer too. On average, we are running 10 degrees below normal. The highest has been in the low nineties and the nights cool down to the mid-sixties. Climate change- Naw, its just a wet cool year.

The rain has made all the vegetation thrive beyond their norms. Crepe Myrtles are massive bursts of velvety blooms in bright vivid colors. Roses are thickly covered in big and beautiful blossoms of red and yellow and pink. Every blooming variety is excelling this year.

The farmers aren't doing so well. Speculation is that the field crops are over watered and will produce sub-standard yields. Tobacco always falters in excessively wet years.

I have noticed that my yard is washing away in an area that's hard to grow grass. Flower pots are growing a greenish stain and little patches of moss and mushrooms are thriving in other areas. Even the front door is reacting to the continual moisture. In the past month, with increased rainfall and temperatures, the mahogany front door has swollen and is difficult to open and close. It was especially bad the week that we had 90% humidity.

I can live with all the rain and it's consequences. The only downside is that the Fall  is likely to be less colorful and I do love the beautiful Fall colors that we have in Greensboro.

I've lived here 22 years and it is the wettest year that I have seen, but I'm from Texas. All I have to do is talk with my brother Ted back in Fort Worth or my brother Mike in Phoenix and I quit worrying about the rain and the humidity here. The dog days of August soar above 100 degrees for weeks on end and my brothers would love to have a little shower like we had today; or the steady rain we had yesterday; or the heavy downpour we had all day Saturday!