March rainfall sets new record with 8.29” total

By Kathy Thomson

Last month, 8.29 inches of rain fell in the official rain gauge, making it the wettest March ever recorded in Albany. The previous record was 5.2 inches in March 1979.

The abundant March rainfall brought the 2020 first quarter totals up to 12.36, slightly below the record 13.11 inches recorded during January, February, and March of 1968, but well above the average of 5.42 inches for the first three months.

Average Albany rainfall for the month of March is 2.33 inches. 

According to local farmer Brad Petree, although the abundant rainfall is making it hard for him to get his fields prepared for planting hay, the moisture has been great for the growing wheat crop.

“The rain limits what we can do with cultivation,” said Petree, “but it’s been perfect for the wheat. It couldn’t be any better.”

Like many farmers though, Petree was cautious with his optimism.

“With all the rain showers that have come through every few days, we should have a bumper crop of wheat – as long as rust doesn’t move in,” he said. “We need to watch out for leaf rust in conditions like this, depending on the variety of wheat.”