All summer we agreed that we needed it. Now that we have it, people are already asking when it’s going to end. The rain is here and it’s going to stick around for a couple of days.
We had a very dry summer and a dry start to fall
This past summer was a warm one, and it was really dry. July was the fourth driest on record, with only .77 inches of rain the entire month. For comparison, normally we see over 3 inches of rain in July here.
Then, in September, we saw that trend continue again. We were once again in drought status with only .73 inches of rain.
Rain is here for a couple of days
If you’re one of the people who have been hoping for rain, you’re getting your wish this week. Forecasts are calling for lake effect rain throughout most of the week. It doesn’t look like we’re going to get too much of a break until Saturday. That is the first day this week when we don’t see rain at all in the forecast.
What is Lake Effect Rain?
We know what Lake Effect Snow is in Western New York, but what is lake effect rain? Essentially, we get lake effect rain when a cold front passes over a large body of water like Lake Erie while it’s still warm. The cold front will essentially soak up the moisture and heat from the lake. As the saturated air moves down the shoreline it will cool and rapidly condense. That can create some narrow bands of rain. If it were cold enough, that rain would turn to snow and could produce some pretty heavy storms.
We could see some heavy rain over the next couple of days, so you might want to check and double check those sump pumps!
Raining? 10 Last Minute Indoor Activities Buffalo Kids Will Love
No sunshine? No problem! Here are some fun ideas to keep the kids from boredom on a rainy day in Buffalo.
Gallery Credit: YouTube/Canva