By the time you read this (it's Friday night, late), our two month drought should be over. That is, if the boob tube prognosticators have their computer forecasts right. One of them reported four or five inches of rain this week for Westside Observer readers. And perhaps 10 inches in the river valley and the Ouachita Mountain areas.
We can do without the flooding downpours, but we really do need a good soaker to wash away at least part of the January-February drought that got the area off to a dry start this year.
The NOAA station in Gravette recorded a measly .47 inch of moisture during January and even less, .39 inch, in February. That's a total of just .86 inch, getting us to a 4.04 deficit from the 86-year average of 4.90 inches.
A check of the past year's statistics showed only one other year, 1943, when less than an inch of rain and snow fell during the January-February period. According to observer Elson Schmidt's records, only .82 inch of precip was recorded at the Gravette station. That is the 86-year dry record! Not a drop fell in January that year.
Enough about the wet stuff. We all know it's dry, though the soil surface shows a smidgen of moisture. We really do need a ground soaker, even though the ponds are still full from the copious rainfall in December.
A drive around the area during the past few days seems to prove the groundhog was right when he apparently failed to see his shadow. Spring flowers are blooming almost a month early. The crocus have come and are gone and robins can be seen feasting in every yard. Japonica bushes, those old standbys, are extra early this year and are clothed in bright red, soon to be matched with huge balls of snow that cover Bradford pear trees. The Hendren drive east of Gravette is always a spectacular sight as is the row of Bradfords at the post office.
The early blooming trees -- we used to call them magnolias -- are huge bouquets. Seldom do they escape a February or March freeze as they struggle to welcome spring every year. A check of our dogwood tree shows buds struggling to break open and, if they do manage to bloom, the Siloam Springs dogwood festival will be minus those blooms in April.
Old timers -- this is not confession -- are quick to point out that every year is different. This year just seems to be extra-different. That's putting it mildly. I understand crappie fishermen are getting the itch, and picking ticks after tramping in the woods seems to be another pastime -- one we could do without.
On a broader scale, some expert reported recently the Arctic ice cap is melting almost twice as fast as had been predicted and I even saw a train pulling a row of flatcars with snow to the annual Alaska dog sled race. That's almost as bad as Stilwell, Okla., importing strawberries for their annual festival.
Things really are all fouled up this year. Could it be because of politics? So much hot air blowing continually from the tube, and tempers hot enough to fry an egg floating in mid-air -- that beats frying one on the hot pavement during July and August. The political conflict, confusion, name calling and temper tantrums so far may be a harbinger of the summer ahead. Let's hope not but that some semblance of decorum returns to the political scene. Perhaps that could help get the weather back on track. Don't hold your breath.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 03/09/2016