Rain helping with drought

Video

Before the rain our region was at 702 on the drought scale, 800 is desert like conditions. Now we’re down to 350 on the scale.

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By Angela Hatcher
WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor
Published: August 27, 2008

Until now, it had been so dry we started to wonder if even the evergreens would turn Brown.

“This is the prettiest day I can imagine.“, says Forester Chris Thomsen.

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that beholder just happens to be a forester like Chris Thomsen. He doesn’t mind standing in the pouring rain because,

“In 27 years with the state, I’ve never seen us that dry.“, says Thomsen.

Just two days ago, the ground was cracked open. Our region was at 702 on the drought scale, 800 is like a desert.

“We’re sitting around 350 on our drought index, so we’ve almost cut it in half from what it was.“, says Thomsen.

Thomsen checks the rain gauge one last time.

“It looks like it’s about .8”, says Thomsen.

That makes a little more than four inches for the day.

“So this cup of rain water makes you pretty happy?“, asks Angela Hatcher.

“It makes me very happy.“, says Thomsen.

“Better than champagne?“, asks Angela.

“It’s my after 5 beverage today.“, says Thomsen.

The impact should be felt well past one day, stretching into fall fire season.

Because of the rain we’re getting right now we’re in the low category for fire danger. Now heading into a fall fire season they always expect the days to be in the high category. That’s because the leaves are falling from the trees. They’re dry and brown and crispy on the ground. Now had we not gotten the rain that we’re seeing, they were anticipating days being in the very high to extreme category. But now they’re hoping if the rain continues and as the leaves fall off the trees, that we will fall back to medium and possibly even low days.

“Wonder if I can get that last half inch.“, says Thomsen.

“Every drop.“, says Angela.

“Every drop.“, replies Thomsen.

Thomsen really wants to make it count.

“It’s still sitting at .48.“, says Thomsen.

“ You’re squeezing it.“, says Angela.

“I’m squeezing it.“, says Thomsen.

“That’s wishful thinking.“, says Angela.

This rain is a wish come true.