The year just past was almost the wettest and almost the hottest in the 94 years weather records have been recorded in Rockdale.
Local residents, and those who attended the Rockdale Fair last October, are okay that it only came close.
A total of 52.13 inches of precipitation fell in 2018, making it the fifth wettest year in weather record history.
The all-time record year was 2001, when 65.78 inches of precipitation were recorded.
In between are 1957
(57.03), 1991 (53.66) and 2007 (53.64).
RAIN ‘FALL’—What made 2018 unique was that so much of the rain fell in the fall and late summer.
October’s 12.25-inch total was the second-wettest October since weather records have been kept.
You don’t have to go back to ancient history to find the wettest October though. It was 13.74 in 2015.
The September total was 9.25 inches and precipitation was 9.15 inches in December.
Driest month of 2018 was January, with just 0.75 inches.
TOTALS—The wetter than usual year compares to Rockdale’s 10-year average of 26.7 inches and 94-year average of 33.0 inches.
It was by far the wettest year of the past 10 and more than double the 24.78 recorded in 2017.
HOT STREAK—Before the rains cooled it down, the summer of 2018 was sweltering.
It peaked on July 26 when a high of 111 was recorded. That’s just two degrees “cooler” than Rockdale’s all-time high of 113 logged on Sept. 4, 2000.
It also came during a six-day streak when the mercury climbed to 105 or above each day.
Consecutive highs of 105, 106, 107, 106, 108 and 111 were recorded.
Temperature data is not complete for 2018 (see note under rainfall box) but the partial data submitted shows temperatures as high as 105 recorded through late August.
By summer’s end residents were wondering if 2018’s was setting heat records but it wasn’t even close.
Rockdale’s hottest year remains 2011 which logged triple digits a staggering 91 times and 42 of those were 105 or higher.
In 2018 the mercury didn’t hit the century mark until July 1. In 2011 it had already been as hot as 108 during June.
The year’s low was apparently 22 on New Year’s Day, 2018.
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