After a wet spring, Putnam County has dried out in recent weeks, but the numbers are not far from normal.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Faith Borden said so far this year, Putnam County has received some 39.4 inches of rainfall, which is just below the expected total of 40 inches. Borden said if there is not much precipitation this fall, the numbers could become an issue.
“Typically, fall does not see a lot of rain,” Borden said. “Maybe a few inches. It just depends on how much rain comes in with cold fronts. If we have any coastal hurricanes that come through, not as hurricanes, but as remnants of storms.”
Borden said early predictions show the next three months have equal chances of being above or below the expected amount of rain. Borden said this makes predictions more difficult, since they do not lean either way.
The National Drought Monitor said Putnam County is abnormally dry, but a drought is not expected to develop over the next month.
Borden said the outlook for precipitation or a potential drought is dependent on if and when rain actually arrives.
“Really, there is nothing looking at the long term signals for anything to bump that up or below,” Borden said. “So at this point in time, for the next fall season, we’re not looking for anything for anything to kind of change that.”
Despite all of this, Borden said it is too early to tell if there will be a drought in Putnam County this fall.
“At this point in time, I don’t see anything in the climate signals that will push us in any way,” Borden said. “For the time being, let’s just enjoy the fall weather.”
Borden said the area should be expecting a cold front later this week, and temperatures could drop about ten degrees by the weekend.
