Radar Rain Shadow |
Jackson Still and Prosperity , two important Department of Forestry rainfall reporting locations, have been closed due to state budget cuts. This is unfortunate as these two reporting stations previously demonstrated the extremes of the Radar Rain Shadow effect. Additionally, important CoCoRaHS stations near Dothan, and northern Holmes county have stopped reporting. Most of these reporters may have quit because their reports were frequently questioned with regard to accuracy. This was certainly the case with the two forestry stations, Prosperity and Jackson Still . Officials must have wondered and questioned how two stations so close together could report such disparity in rainfall amounts. Other area stations continue to document the long term rainfall disparity between upwind and downwind counties. February's high rainfall of 2013-2016 has obscured the rainshadow line. Abundant Feburuary rainfall of 2013-2016 keeps the average up bringing the 10 Year average to normal or significantly above in some cases. The average for Wausau, at the eastern edge of the Rainshadow, remains low, receiving only 7.3 inches during 60 day period of the 10 year record. Bonifay, Ponce DeLeon, Wausau, and others in the rain shadow continue in long term drought. The rainshadow line will re-emerge with stronger definition on the map later during the drier summer and fall months.
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