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Sperryville weather-watcher Dennis Wingfield. He reported that his records show March to be an average of four degrees cooler during the day and two degrees cooler at night than those of 1988.
Though meterology is a hobby for the RCHS history teacher, Mr. Wingfield is a cooperative storm reporter for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a regular contributor to Bob Ryan’s weather report on WRC-TV, Channel 4 in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Wingfield recorded a total of 3.81 inches of precipitation during March, up from last year’s 2.5 inches. Most of the rain fell in storms during the past week.
Overall, Mr. Wingfield’s observations show the first three months of this year have been slightly wetter than last, with a total of 1.38 inches more falling this winter than last.
March was the wettest month since August 1988, Mr. Wingfield reported.
However, the state climatologist’s office cautions against optimism based on short-term rainfall data. Mr. Stenger said that data collected by his office indicates that groundwater levels are being replenished following a prolonged period of depletion, but shortages in deep soils and some isolated areas are still evident.
“For agriculture," Mr. Stenger added, “soil conditions are either adequate or too wet as in the eastern part of the state.”
Mr. Williams said, however, that Rappahannock still needs more rain. He noted that many streams still are not flowing as heavily as they should be for this time of year, indicating that the recent rains have been absorbed by thirsty soils rather than running off.
And, he added, farm ponds around the county he has seen recently are not as full as they usually are at this time.
Since summer in Rappahannock often brings a persistent pattern of spotty thunderstorms, and scorching sun and drying breezes rather than gentle, soaking rains, “I’d like to think that we will get adequate water before summer’s heat,” Mr. Williams said.
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