Tampa Bay Rain: How Much Has Really Fallen?

Feeling a little waterlogged as of late?

Figures from the National Weather Service indicate there are some very good reasons why Tampa Bay area residents might be feeling that way. While August rains didn’t quite break all-time records they came close – very close.

According to the weather service, August 2015 was the “third wettest August since records began in 1890.” Preliminary weather service figures indicate a total of 16.47 inches of rain fell on Tampa during the month. The record, set in 1949, was 18.59 inches. The wettest day of the month this year was recorded Aug. 3 when 4.39 inches fell. The driest August on record was recorded in 1938 when only .78 inches of rain fell on Tampa.

July also brought more than its fair share of rain, but it was far from a record-breaking month. The total rainfall was 11.84 inches, according to preliminary weather service data. The record for the month was 20.59 inches set in 1960. The driest July on record saw only 1.65 inches of rain fall. That milestone was marked back in 1981.

Just how September will shape up remains unclear, but forecasters do anticipate a soggy start. There’s a 50 percent chance of scattered storms Tuesday followed by strong chances of storms throughout most of the week. Courtesy of all the recent rain, forecasters are warning that afternoon storms do pose the threat of localized flooding.

The record for rainfall amounts in Tampa during September was set back in 1912 when 18.93 inches fell. The driest Septembers were recorded in 1910 and again in 2005 when only .79 inches fell. September 2014 saw 9.57 inches of rain.

For a complete look at the weather in your neighborhood, visit your local Patch’s homepage.

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