08-27-2005, 06:16 AM
If 2004 seemed wetter than usual, it was because precipitation in greater southeast Michigan had in fact increased during 2004 over the total amount of precipitation that fell in 2003, according to the 2004 edition of what for now will be the final Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) Rain Gauge Network Annual Report.
While the results for the two lakes area measuring sites in 2003 were both below their 40-year averages, 2004 measurements showed a dramatic increase.
According to SEMCOG Rain Gauge Analyst Anne Ordiway, the Milford precipitation collection site saw the greatest lakes area increase in precipitation, as 36.32 inches fell there in 2004, an increase of 8.5 inches over 2003's total.
The average precipitation over the past 40 years at the Milford measuring site is 30.49 inches, with a median of 30.24 inches.
Ordiway said that meant that during half of those 40 years, more than 30.24 inches of rain fell, and less than that amount fell during the other half of that time period.
The only other testing site in the lakes area is at the Waterford and Pontiac border, near Oakland County's government complex, where 33.88 inches of rain fell last year. That was 6.08 inches more than fell in 2003.
For that site, the 40-year average is 31.10 inches, with a median of 30.75 inches.
The Milford measuring site's jump of more than eight inches of precipitation over the 2003 figure was relatively close to the region's highest increase, which was of more than 10 inches above the prior year's figure in east-central Wayne County and northeast Macomb County.
Neither the Milford nor Waterford measuring site's 2004 precipitation amounts were the high or low in the SEMCOG network, as rain totals ranged from a high of 44.48 inches at Richmond, in northeast Macomb County, to a low of 28.11 inches at Grosse Pointe Woods, in northeast Wayne County.
The entire region was drier in 2003, when precipitation ranged from a high of 38.48 inches to a low of 24.17 inches, and drier still in 2002, when precipitation ranged from 35.31 inches to 18.80 inches.
The heavy rainfall in May 2004 was a major factor in the higher annual totals. During May 2004, most of the region received more than twice the normal monthly amounts, while some locations recorded up to 3.5 times those values — or 350 percent of normal rainfall amounts. Below-normal precipitation during February, April, and September offset the otherwise much greater annual totals.
For over 40 years, SEMCOG has maintained a Rain Gauge Network covering much of southeast Michigan. In partnership with Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston County, and the city of Detroit, the network covers Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties, and parts of Washtenaw County. Precipitation totals are recorded by independent observers at approximately 65 sites.
According to Ordiway, the 2004 results will be the final results released under the SEMCOG umbrella, due to financial and administrative considerations.
She said, though, the individual communities with precipitation collection stations will still be able to collect and report yearly precipitation data.
[signature]
While the results for the two lakes area measuring sites in 2003 were both below their 40-year averages, 2004 measurements showed a dramatic increase.
According to SEMCOG Rain Gauge Analyst Anne Ordiway, the Milford precipitation collection site saw the greatest lakes area increase in precipitation, as 36.32 inches fell there in 2004, an increase of 8.5 inches over 2003's total.
The average precipitation over the past 40 years at the Milford measuring site is 30.49 inches, with a median of 30.24 inches.
Ordiway said that meant that during half of those 40 years, more than 30.24 inches of rain fell, and less than that amount fell during the other half of that time period.
The only other testing site in the lakes area is at the Waterford and Pontiac border, near Oakland County's government complex, where 33.88 inches of rain fell last year. That was 6.08 inches more than fell in 2003.
For that site, the 40-year average is 31.10 inches, with a median of 30.75 inches.
The Milford measuring site's jump of more than eight inches of precipitation over the 2003 figure was relatively close to the region's highest increase, which was of more than 10 inches above the prior year's figure in east-central Wayne County and northeast Macomb County.
Neither the Milford nor Waterford measuring site's 2004 precipitation amounts were the high or low in the SEMCOG network, as rain totals ranged from a high of 44.48 inches at Richmond, in northeast Macomb County, to a low of 28.11 inches at Grosse Pointe Woods, in northeast Wayne County.
The entire region was drier in 2003, when precipitation ranged from a high of 38.48 inches to a low of 24.17 inches, and drier still in 2002, when precipitation ranged from 35.31 inches to 18.80 inches.
The heavy rainfall in May 2004 was a major factor in the higher annual totals. During May 2004, most of the region received more than twice the normal monthly amounts, while some locations recorded up to 3.5 times those values — or 350 percent of normal rainfall amounts. Below-normal precipitation during February, April, and September offset the otherwise much greater annual totals.
For over 40 years, SEMCOG has maintained a Rain Gauge Network covering much of southeast Michigan. In partnership with Wayne County, Macomb County, Livingston County, and the city of Detroit, the network covers Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Livingston counties, and parts of Washtenaw County. Precipitation totals are recorded by independent observers at approximately 65 sites.
According to Ordiway, the 2004 results will be the final results released under the SEMCOG umbrella, due to financial and administrative considerations.
She said, though, the individual communities with precipitation collection stations will still be able to collect and report yearly precipitation data.
[signature]