Jupiter Plurius has established a new wet record
for March in Alabama. March this year was wetter than any previous March
since the beginning of state-wide weather statistics in 1884, and the
wettest month on record with the exception of June 1900 and July
1916.
This information was contained in the general summary of march 1922 weather conditions in Alabama, issued yesterday by P.
H. Smyth, section director. The total precipitation exceeded ten inches in
nearly all portions of the Tallapoosa and Alabama valleys and in parts of the middle Coosa, the
upper and lower Tombigbee and Tennessee valleys, according to the report. It was less than
eight inches in Jackson, Hale, Jefferson and a few South-eastern and Florida border counties.
Spring
floods occurred in nearly all the principal rivers of the state, but were less serious than
many former spring floods because of a comparatively even distribution of the precipitation, it was
stated in the summary. Losses to the extent of approximately $30,000 were suffered in the
Mobile basin, said the report. Interference was caused to farm operations in most sections as a
result of the excessive and frequent rains, and particularly in the "Black Belt" section.
Temperature during the month averaged normal,
but freezing weather extended to the coast counties on March 5 and resulted in
some damage to tender vegetation.
The general summary for March weather in Alabama follows:
For the State the month was the wettest March
since the beginning of State-wide records in 1884, and the wettest month
of record except June 1900 and July 1916. No phenomenally heavy monthly
amounts were reported from individual stations however, the greatest total, 13.88 inches at
Thomasville, having been exceeded in previous years in every month except November. The total precipitation exceeded 10 inches in nearly
all portions of the Tallapoosa and Alabama Valleys and in parts of the middle Coosa, upper and lower
Tombigbee, and Tennessee Valleys, but was less than 8 inches only in Jackson, Hale, Jefferson, a few southeastern,
and the Florida-border counties. Noteworthy floods occurred in nearly all the prinicipal rivers, but they were
less serious than many former spring floods, due to the comparatively even distribution of
precipitation.
Temperature averaged normal freezing extended to
the coast counties on the 5th, causing some damage to tender vegetation.
The excessive and frequent rains interfered seriously with farm work in
most sections, particularly in the "black belt" counties.
The
mean temperature for the state determined from the records of 39 stations, was 56.2 degrees, or exactly
normal, and 7.8 degrees lowere than the mean for March 1921.
The montly average for the
state, determined from the records of 57 stations, was 10.11 inches, or 4.65 inches more than the
normal, and 5.21 inches more than for March, 1921 making this the wettest March since the
beginning of records.
