TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

March Rains In Tampa Bay Area To Fall Well Short Of Normal

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 31, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Even with rain in today's forecast, March will end with well-below-normal rainfall around the Tampa Bay area.

Rain measuring stations scattered across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, show the region rain is far below half what's normally received in a typical March.

Measurements through Monday show Pasco has received only 19 percent of its normal rain, while Hillsborough has seen 30 percent of normal. Pinellas, with 23 percent, is in the middle of the three.

The National Weather Service forecasts a small chance of rain through the week. But it is unlikely that enough rain will fall today to make up the difference for March.

Hillsborough would have to get 2.4 inches to reach normal, and Pinellas would have to get 2.6 inches. Pasco, which has seen the least amount of rain among the three counties, would need 3.1 inches.

These rainfall amounts are different from the official recordings of the weather service, which uses rain at Tampa International Airport as its standard. The water management district operates nearly 20 stations in the three counties and gets a better feel for the region's rain.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT