Rite of spring

If it seems like it's been raining more this March than any in the past several years, that's because it has.

So far it has rained 5.96 inches in Cape Girardeau, including the rain that fell Monday morning and afternoon. The last time it rained more was in 1997, when 6.13 inches fell.

Ryan Presley, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky., said heavy rains and flooding have caused at least seven deaths in northeast Tennessee, but haven't caused too much of a problem on the western side of the state or in Southeast Missouri.

"The Ohio River is about two to four inches above flood stage, but the Mississippi hasn't really been affected," he said.

Presley said the rainfall totals might be a little above normal, but it isn't all that unusual for this time of year.

"I don't think it's a record," he said. "You'd probably have to have between eight and 10 inches to be setting records for March in Cape Girardeau."

Twelve inches, actually.

Al Robertson, a retired professor in the earth science department at Southeast Missouri State University, has been keeping track of weather records for years and said the most rainfall Cape Girardeau has ever seen in March was in 1945. That year, 12.75 inches fell.

The most recent March that has been close to the record was in 1977, when 11.89 inches fell.

Even so, the 5.96 inches that have fallen this month have been a problem for some people who work outdoors.

Steve Lukens, assistant principal at R.O. Hawkins Jr. High School in Jackson, Mo., said the rain has delayed construction crews working on an addition to the school.

"We're on a slowdown process," Lukens said, noting bricklayers are unable to lay brick in rainy weather. "I don't think it will be a major setback, though, since we're a little ahead of schedule anyway."

Gerald Bryan, an agronomist at the University of Missouri Extension Center, sees the rain in a different light.

He said it's been good for local farmers and their crops but that any more could start to cause concerns.

"This much rain allows pastures to start growing good, but if they get too much, the risk of crops getting diseases moves in and the seeds can start to decay," Bryan said. "Farmers like to have moisture built up this time of year and then turn a little on the dry side."

While Bryan is optimistic that the rains will help the crops now, he said it doesn't mean there's less of a chance for a drought this summer.

"Back in 1980 we had a similar type of really wet spring," he said. "It rained every day until June 1 and then after that it didn't rain for six months."

Presley, the forecaster, said people in Southeast Missouri should see a break from the rain, although they might not get a break from the clouds.

He said that starting today skies should be cloudy but dry for the rest of the week.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128