02/03 rainfall vs 09

[grassfarmer]

Well June is done and we seemed to have missed most of the thunder showers going. Still green here but very low precipitation. In May/June 09 we had only 62% of the rain we had in May/June 02 and 38% of what we had in May/June 03. We would start this year with lower moisture reserves too.
I know we weren't anything like the driest area in 02/03 and likely won't be this time either but it is still a significant drought in a part of the country where grasses are adapted to a good rainfall.

[coppertop]

I had a meeting in town this morning and it
was pouring there on the concrete where
they don't need it, and barely a drop fell
here until later today. We got a nice
shower but nothing like we need.

[per]

We had a big thunder boomer pass over. About 78 drops. Caused a dew this morning. I got in my truck and drove 110km/hr so I could exercise the windshield wipers. Funny how the faster you go the harder the rain. lol Pulling in a tractor pull this afternoon. That brought a rain last year.

[coppertop]

Our community used to have an outdoor rodeo
the second weekend in June and it got
rained out every year, or at least one day
of it was rained out. They went to an
indoor rodeo and now we don't see rain in
June !!! It was zero this morning, I went
out at midnight and covered lots of
plants.......Go Figure !!!

[grassfarmer]

Got a shock this morning here too. 8.30am and there was a 1/4 inch thick sheet of ice sitting in an upturned lid on my deck. Potatoes are totally black - and they were the only thing growing in my garden as the rest failed to germinate. July 1st that's the middle of the summer - looks like it's going to be as crazy as 02. Remember the snow in the first week of August? combining in late November?

[coppertop]

grassfarmer this is a tough year for
agriculture in Alberta but I spoke to a
fellow today who has worked in the oil
patch since he graduated from college
and he has not worked since the first of
February, so Albertans everywhere are
suffering.
Just heard on the radio this morning
that there are all kinds of hotel rooms
available in Calgary for the Stampede at
a reasonable price and that sure says
something about how the economy is
affecting us. Most years there were no
rooms anywhere and any rooms that were
rented including the flea bag hotels
were priced to the skies.
It is supposed to rain over the weekend
and into next week so there may be a bit
brighter days ahead.

[smcgrath76]

We were pretty blessed with a thunderstorm
Monday night that turned into a 1 1/4"
general rain at the farm. We are more
than 3xs the rain of 02 at home (current
total 1 3/4"). A bit south of us, and
also to the west it looks very bad and I
really feel for those neighbourhoods.

[blackjack]

Took my last load of cows out to summer pasture in the Winfield area yesterday.I've never seen that area ever that dry in the years we've been up there.Grasshoppers are a half inch long and thick.Looking forward to the general rain the weatherman is talking for next week.

[coppertop]

we got 1/2" of rain last night