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By LISA G. CURRIE
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Many long-faced Rappahannock children may have cried, “Rain, rain, go away,” as rain poured continuously the first 18 days of May.
And farmers, both large and small, said a silent prayer as rivers rushed as creeks and ponds filled to overflowing with May’s 7.68 inches of rain.
No doubt, after the hot, dry summers of the past, several years, the rain was welcomed by Rappahannock farmers.
“There isn’t any excess,” said county Extension agent Tommy Williams. The experienced farmer said that the county has been drought-striken for so long that the rainfall “was quickly absorbed.”
The rain was doubly welcomed since it came after yet another winter of below average precipitation, giving rise to fears of one more terribly hot, dry summer.
But, according to Mr. Williams, the spring growing season was saved by the several inches of rain which fell during the last days of March. And, though April’s rainfall was negligible, one of the wettest Mays on record made up the difference.
State Climatologist Dr. Pat Michaels, a professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia, said that a good indicator of precipitation is the water level in farm ponds. “Statewide the water situation looks quite good.”
Area farmers are reporting the same good news.
“Everything is doing quite well,” Manfred Call of
See RAIN, p. 16
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