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No Dread As We Tread Water

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

Don't feel guilty if your weekend was a washout, and don't despair if your grass is taller and the weeds are higher by the time you get around to weekly landscape maintenance in a few days.

The widespread rain we had on Saturday and Sunday was good - no, make that great - for all things dependent upon water.

And it was great for the soul, allowing many of us to regroup from a busy week by getting lost in a good book or movie, or to simply daydream a bit while watching that beautiful liquid sunshine fall outside our favorite window.

The region is in the midst of a drought, and some areas got a soaking that was way overdue. Among the areas hitting pay dirt was Tampa International Airport, where more than three inches fell.

The rain, courtesy of tropical moisture from the south and a wind pattern that pushed slow-moving storms ashore, didn't end the drought. Groundwater, rainfall and river levels have been below normal - in some cases way below - for several months, which is why regional water managers want once-a-week watering restrictions extended for at least three more months. The governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District is to decide today.

But the good news is that the rainy season is upon us.

For those new to the area, you can pretty much tell the time by Florida's afternoon thunderstorms. Cells can develop quickly. Or you can watch them slowly build before nature's torrent is unleashed, turning our yards a picturesque shade of green, recharging the aquifer and bolstering lakes, rivers and ponds.

Things usually have dried off by the time the next day's round comes. A good rule of thumb is to never plan outdoor activities in the mid- and late afternoon.

Here's another thing to keep in mind: Sometimes, we need a break from the sunshine. And where there's thunder, there's rain, and it should never be frowned upon.

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