Race to 25

If precipitation totals in August and September were any indication of what is to come in January and February, we would be in for one heck of a record-breaking winter.  To my understanding, there is no collaboration.

Now the question in my head that lingers is who will be the first city in eastern Pennsylvania to hit the 25-inch rainfall total from the span of August through September.  What about 30?  Soaking summer thunderstorms in early August transitioned into drenching downpours from Irene.  And now we are in the midst of days of rain thanks to the remnants of another tropical system tracking over us due to a stalled front.

With that being said, various parts of our region have been hit harder than others.  But generally speaking with these three big rainmakers, everybody has had and will have an equal chance of seeing high rain totals.  However, the zone to watch seems to be the area between Philadelphia and Berks County.

In order to keep this interesting, one location from each region will be selected to represent that area.  This should help distinguish rain totals.  Obviously the selected city must report their rain totals so I will not be able to do as many locations as I wanted to. 

Let’s begin.

Starting with the hometown team and representing all of Berks County will be Reading who struggled in early August to get much of any rain.  It will take a lot to compete with some of the other locations but we will see how the month goes.  As of now they sit at 8.7 inches.

Representing the Lehigh Valley will be Allentown.  I couldn’t find totals for both Bethlehem and Allentown so we will just go with the one.  Allentown has been in that zone of solid rain over the last month or so where they seem to get a bit of everything.  Solid total of 15.33 inches.

The front runners of the competition and record setters showing the brotherly love is none other than Philadelphia.  They will cover all of the Delaware Valley.  They have been flat out hammered.  They demolished their record for rain in a month and are comfortably out in front with 19.82 inches.

Lancaster has also been in a bit of a hole when it comes to the rain but the city better known for farms and Amish will at least give Reading a battle.  They are a bit behind with 8.51 inches but should make a good push by the end of the week.

The state capital will be the last city in the battle.  Like Lancaster, Harrisburg could make a decent play depending on the rainfall this week.  They have fared better or worse depending on how you look at it than places like Reading and Lancaster.  They have received a solid 11.48 inches.

Totals will be updated anytime any of these locations receive rain.  I'm basically expecting a post every day for the rest of the week.  Hopefully we get a break before the next tallies as flooding would once again become a concern.