2006 one of wettest years on record
The average temperature last month was 3.2 degrees higher than average.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Even if another drop of rain or a snowflake doesn't fall from the sky this month, 2006 is already one of the wettest years in the recorded weather history of the Mahoning Valley.
In November, the Mahoning Valley recorded 2.46 inches of precipitation, or 0.61 of an inch below normal for the area in that month.
During the first 11 months of the year, the Valley recorded 45.41 inches of precipitation. The Valley also recorded 0.42 of an inch of precipitation during the first four days of December, according to the National Weather Service.
That 45.83 inches of precipitation already places 2006 as the sixth wettest year in recorded weather history for this area. Next on the list of wettest years is 2003 with 46.01 inches of precipitation.
If only the average amount of precipitation for December is recorded, 2.9 inches, this would be the second wettest year for the Valley with 48.31 inches of precipitation. The wettest year on record is 1956, in which 48.58 inches of precipitation fell.
Soggy months
June, July, September and October of this year finished in the all-time top 10 as far as wettest in their respective months.
The average temperature in November was 43.9 degrees, 3.2 degrees higher than the average for the month.
The weather service records the Valley's weather at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna Township.
When measuring precipitation, rainfall is a straight measurement; an inch of ran equals an inch of precipitation.
Because snow is considerably less moist than rain, about 10 inches of snow is typically equal to 1 inch of precipitation, according to the weather service.
skolnick@vindy.com