Local and area rainfalls pathetically dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walhalla October rainfall amounted to only a little more than 1.5.”  Going into the last day of the month, Official Weather Observer Barbara Wilson’s measurements totaled 1.64.” There’s also astounding news from nearby Clemson University.  From January through October this year, only 25.93″ of rain fell on university property.  Clemson gauges that provide rainfall amounts to the National Weather Service are located at the LaMaster Dairy Center.  Dating back to 1896, this represents the lowest January-October stretch of rainfall that has ever been recorded in the area.  “This is really, really low…,says Dale Linvill, agriculture meteorologist.  Linvill has been recording local rainfall totals on a daily basis since 1984.  Extremely dry conditions plagued Upstate South Carolina starting in late May of this year and then crept down into the mdidle of the state in early July.  In the Upstate, hundreds of acres of dryland corn that looked fabulous just a month or so before harvest ended up suffering serious damage.  The Upstate also received virtually no rain from Hurricane Matthew.  Area farmers hope normal rain returns soon.  If so, the damage caused by 2016’s ultra dry conditions in the Upstate could be remedied in time for this spring’s crops to get off to a good start.  Rain is also needed to restore lake levels.  Lake Hartwell is almost eight feet below its full pool of 660 feet.