How Dry I Am!

"How dry I am" might have been the motto or theme song last year in Westside Eagle Observer country. The area experienced one of its driest during the past 50 year cycle. Precipitation recorded at the NOAA weather station in Gravette totaled 37.79 inches, well below the 44.88 average for the twelve-month period. The year ended with a deficit of 7.09 inches.

Records dating back to 1964 -- 50 years -- show only five drier years: 33.17 inches in 2012, 35.93 inches in 1971, 37.19 inches in 1967, 32.12 inches in 1966 and the lowest being 28.04 inches in 1980.

The lowest 12-month total for Gravette dating back to 1930 was a miserly 23.14 inches which fell in 1934 during the "Dust Bowl Days."

During 2014 the first two months of the year showed precipitation deficits as did the last two months of the year.

Only March, June and October were wetter than average with October's 9.84 inches dropping the deficit, which through September amounted to 10.99 inches, to just slightly more than 5 inches. The drier than average November and December pushed the deficit to more than 7 inches.

December was an unusual weather month with some precipitation recorded on 14 days, most less than one-tenth inch. The month ended with a deficit of just under one-half inch.

In comparison, the year 2013 ended with 53.25 inches precipitation, more than 8 inches above normal.

Temperature-wise, the coldest temp recorded in 2014 was minus 7 degrees on Jan. 6. The hottest, 100 degrees, was recorded on three consecutive days, Aug. 24, 25 and 26.

Dodie Evans is the keeper of Gravette's NOAA weather station and records.

General News on 01/07/2015