Date: Fri 15-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

weather-rain-May

Full Text:

May Gets An Extra Soggy Start

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Tuesday's early-morning rain marked the 13th-straight day the area had been

hit with precipitation. But finally, by the afternoon, the sun returned.

Starting on the final day of April, rain has fallen every day throughout the

first half of May.

The old adage, "April showers bring May flowers," certainly did not hold true

this year, at least for now. However, things are expected to get much drier

through the rest of the month and into June, according to Gary Lessor of the

Western Connecticut State University weather center.

So far in May, the area has received nearly six inches of rain, already two

inches above normal. The Danbury area received about five inches of

precipitation in April, about a half inch above normal.

The wet weather has made it tough on the golf and softball enthusiasts, but

meteorologists are calling it a blessing in disguise. After the light snowfall

this past winter, everyone was expecting a dry summer. All the rain has

managed to raise the water table back to a safe level.

"I'd rather pay for it now than later," Mr Lessor said.

Despite the large amount of rainfall, the experts were never too concerned

about flooding.

The Housatonic River did not flood. "We use that as a barometer, so we knew it

wasn't that bad," Mr Lessor said.

Of course, the damp weather has made things a bit chilly, a far cry from

temperatures this past March. Remember the unseasonably warm weather that

drifted through the area earlier this spring? Temperatures reached into the

90s on a few occasions during late March. They haven't been that high since.