No surprise here: Reservoirs are full
This just in: Baltimore's reservoir system is full to the brim!
Actually, all three reservoirs - Prettyboy, Liberty and Loch Raven - runneth over in the wake of surplus rainfall in the region for five of the last seven months. Here's the straight dope, right from the Department of Public Works:
Liberty: Crest elevation: 420 feet above mean sea level. Current elevation: 420.31 feet. Capacity - 36.8 billion gallons. Available: 36.8 billion gallons
Prettyboy: Crest elevation: 520 feet. Current elevation: 520.34 feet. Capacity - 17.85 billion gallons. Available: 17.85 billion gallons.
Loch Raven: Crest elevation: 240 feet. Current elevation: 240.94 feet. Capacity: 21.2 billion gallons. Available: 21.2 billion gallons.
Total system: Capacity: 75.85 billion gallons. Available: 75.85 billion gallons.
The airport has recorded 6.21 inches of rain so far in October, almost double the long-term average of 3.16 inches. It's tied for the 13th-wettest October since record-keeping began in 1871. And it's the fifth-wettest October for Baltimore since the station of record moved to Friendship Airport (now BWI-Marshall) in 1950.
And there's a good chance, with more rain Saturday, that October 2009 could leap even higher on the chart. Another inch would make it the fifth-wettest October here since 1871. Here are the rankings for Octobers since 1950:
2005: 9.23 inches
1976: 8.09 inches
1971: 6.88 inches
1995: 6.24 inches
2009: 6.21 inches
(SUN PHOTO/Linda Coan/Loch Raven Reservoir, full, August 1999).
Comments
Frank, I think the question needs to be asked: Will it ever stop raining??? Today was the day when it was supposed to clear out, and instead it looks like another total washout. I think all the so-called experts spreading fear about global warming need to come live hear for a while. I'm more worried about global cooling and wetting. Thanks.
FR: The clouds and drizzle are taking their sweet time moving out, but things should start to brighten up shortly. And forecasters still expect sunshine tomorrow, and most of the week looks cool, but sunny. And BTW, none of this has anything to do with global warming. But, if it persists, it might portend a cool, wet winter.
Posted by: David | November 1, 2009 11:36 AM