Mariton: July Showers

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager

The yearly precipitation deficit was drawn down during July at Mariton. I recorded 8.80 inches of rain for July.  The average for the month is 5.61.  Although 9 inches is a lot of rain for a month, it is not the wettest July.  In 2004, we received 12.27” at Mariton.  I have written before that July can be the driest month (0.40” in 1999), or the wettest.  It just depends on where thunderstorms dump rain, and if a tropical system moves up the coast.

Mariton’s tally for the year is now 27.94 inches, and the average for this point is 30.26”. We were lucky to receive some showers during the month that other areas did not receive.  A drought watch has been declared for the area.  It seems a little strange after all the rain last week, but overall we are in a dry weather pattern and the precipitation deficit could increase again.