Let’s take a look back over the past 15 years at rainfall in Lake Charles and see just how much rain we have received over that time period.
Here’s a breakdown year by year starting in 1997. Keep in mind, the normal yearly rainfall for Lake Charles is 57.19”.
|
YEAR |
RAINFALL RECORDED |
SURPLUS OR DEFICIT |
|
1997 |
65.70” |
+10.86” |
|
1998 |
56.58” |
+1.74” |
|
1999 |
37.38” |
-17.46” |
|
2000 |
48.36” |
-6.48” |
|
2001 |
62.87” |
+8.03” |
|
2002 |
85.17” |
+29.98 |
|
2003 |
44.10” |
-13.09” |
|
2004 |
68.73” |
+11.54” |
|
2005 |
46.05” |
-11.14” |
|
2006 |
56.97” |
-0.22” |
|
2007 |
67.65” |
+10.46” |
|
2008 |
44.43” |
-12.76” |
|
2009 |
73.55” |
+15.31” |
|
2010 |
35.85” |
-21.34” |
|
2011 |
38.64” |
-18.53” |
|
15 YEAR TALLY |
832.03” |
-25.85” |
|
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So over the past 15 years, we have received 832.03” out of the normal 857.85” expected. That puts us at receiving just at 96% of the normal rain over the past 15 years combined.
HURRICANE LILI FROM 2002
In 2002, we were 29.98” above average on rainfall. 21.45” of that total rain fell in October 2002 thanks to Hurricane Lili.
In 2009, we were 15.31” above average on rainfall. 14.96” of that total fell in October 2009 due to a significant rain event that caused widespread flooding across the Lake Charles area.
FLOODING IN WESTLAKE FROM OCTOBER 2009
Ironically, the years of Hurricane Rita (2005) and Ike (2008), we actually ended the year in a deficit of rain both years.
I just thought this was kind of interesting to look back and see how the numbers lined up year by year.
Happy New Year!
-Meteorologist Ben Terry
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