Published November 13, 2003 in issue #0245 of The Hook

By COURTENEY STUART

The downpours of last week did more than just soak the ground: They pushed 2003 into the record books for the year with most days of measurable precipitation. As The Hook's cover story "Weather Roulette" hit the stands on Thursday, November 3, water fell from the sky for the 146th day this year. The previous record of 146 daysfor which 1948 and 1975 tied-- was broken the very next day as more rain fell.

As it stands, if Charlottesville receives average precipitation for the rest of November and December, we'll reach 161 raining days, putting '48 and '75 to shame. And we could break a second record as well: most precipitation.

As of press time this week, 66.70 inches of precipitation had fallen. Without another drop of rain, says climatologist Jerry Stenger, we'll take third place. If rainfall (or snowfall) is average for the rest of the year, we'll hit 72.45 inches total-- nearly 4/10s of an inch more than the record, held by 1937 with 72.07 inches.

Weather Hall of Fame, here we come!

Will we hit the weather jackpot?
PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO

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