Weekend rain gives crops a boost, raises area averages

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September 18, 2012

Weekend rain gives crops a boost, raises area averages

Faith Harper Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:35 AM CDT

JACKSONVILLE —

Weekend rain storms dropped nearly two inches of much-needed rain over the Jacksonville area and gave fall crops a boost.

“It definitely helps out,” said Moon Swanson, co-owner of Diamond B Ranch in Neches. “I don't think I got as much in Neches as other places did, (and we) still need some more to fill the ponds out, but it is definitely super nice compared to last year so I'll take it, everyday.”

Matt Hemingway, meteorologist with the National Weather Service – Shreveport, said a total of 1.96 inches fell on Jacksonville from Thursday to Sunday.

“Compared to last year, this is great,” Hemingway said. “We were still (sweating) out 100 degrees with fires burning everywhere last year.”

The weather service recorded .91 inches for Tyler and 1.77 inches for Lufkin from Thursday to Monday afternoon.

The weather service does not tally annual rainfall counts for Jacksonville, but Hemingway said both Tyler and Lufkin are below the average annual rainfall even though the numbers look drastically better than last year.

Hemingway said Tyler received 24.89 inches this year, compared to its normal is 31.14 inches.

“(They are) 6.25 inches blow normal for the year, which isn't as bad as last year,” he said. “We had only had 12.85 inches for the year (in 2011), which is hard to believe … We have had almost three times as much rain as last year, not quite but almost.”

Lufkin fared a bit better than Tyler, receiving 32.66 inches this year, down .22 inches from normal count of 32.88 inches.

Looking ahead, Hemingway said Jacksonville residents can expect cooler temperatures through Friday with highs in the mid to low 80s and lows in the 50s.

“It's going to feel like fall,” he said. “It's going to be nice and sunny. This is likely the last rain we'll see for the next few days, but it is going to feel nice.”

Swanson said he irrigates his fall garden, but hopes for more rain. He said plants grow better when the showers come from Mother Nature.

“They (the plants) notice a big difference,” he said. “The rain cools the temperatures, and there are lots of variables in there that help the plants grow better. In a drought, the extreme heat has big effects on the plants' health so the rain helps relieve that.”

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Weekend rain gives crops a boost, raises area averages

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