County desperate for rain
Published 12:00 am Friday, May 13, 2011
While residents across parts of the South are bracing for the next rounds of flooding, locally, residents are begging for rain.
Covington County has only received 13.72 inches of rain through the month of April, the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority reported.
That’s down from 20.12 inches reported at this period last year and 28.04 in 2009.
Officials say there has been no rainfall recorded for the first 12 days of May at Yellow River.
In 2009, 3.72 inches were recorded for the same period, and 1.92 inches were recorded in 2010.
Don Haige of the ChocPea said the river and creeks are low as well.
“(Thursday) morning the Yellow River was 3.37 feet,” he said. “It is normally between 5.5 feet and 6 feet. We need rain.”
Residents could see the much-needed rainfall as early as today.
National Weather Service forecasters are calling for a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m.
Tonight is expected to bring a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Saturday, the chances of rain will increase to 50 percent.
The showers will bring with them cooler temperatures. Residents can expect highs to decrease to 77 by Tuesday, and lows to dip to around 52 by Monday night.