By Donathan Prater

Published: March 21, 2008

We’re only two days into spring, but anyone who remembers days of record-setting high temperatures last year coupled with little rain is probably hoping for better this time around.

For more than a week last year, summer temperatures reached the 100-degree mark, prompting several counties across the state to impose restrictions on the use of water.

For a period of time, the area had a D4 Exceptional drought status, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“We ended 2007 as one of our driest seasons on record,” said Bob Jeswald, chief meteorologist for WRBL in Columbus. “It took a long time to get into the drought condition, and it’ll take a while getting out of it.”

However, recent rainfall has somewhat improved conditions.

“We’re still very much in a drought situation, but no longer in an exceptional drought situation in most parts of the state,” said Kurt Webber, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Huntsville.
The area now has a D3 Extreme Drought status.

Chuck Brown of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service (ACES) agreed with Webber.

“From January 2008 up to the point we’re at right now this year, we’ve had adequate rainfall,” Brown said. “However, we’re still several feet of rainfall below normal. Creeks may be full, but there’s a long way to go in replenishing our groundwater supplies.”

Brown said normal rainfall for the area is somewhere between 50 and 52 inches a year.

Adequate rainfall for this point of the year may be around 13 to 14 inches of rain, according to Jeswald.

While rainfall amounts are currently OK, Brown said it’s still a good idea to conserve as much water as possible.

“Collecting water when you turn on the faucet and wait for the water to heat up and using it to water outside plants is a good way to keep from wasting it,” Brown said.

Fixing toilets and dripping faucets around the house and not using sprinklers on your yard when there’s sufficient rain are other ways to conserve.