Rain varies from yard to yard

Avalanche staff

Rain totals in West Texas are about average or way above average - depending upon where you're standing or sitting at the time.

Yes, apparently, the amount of precipitation can vary within a few feet. Doug Bailey told friends at the Lions Club in Alpine last week that he had "an inch and a half in the front yard one day, a quarter of an inch in the back."

The official total for Alpine - at least the total that the Avalanche is using - has started to taper off lately after near-record rains in early summer.

To date, according to the Weather Underground, Alpine has a bit over 15 inches of rain in 2007. Of course, most of us would argue that our totals are higher.

What is clear, at least, is that we are not in a drought (knock on wood).

Marfa, 25 miles to the west and about a thousand feet higher, has had more than 23 inches of rain this year, 11 of it coming in May and an additional 5 in July. And in September, Marfa has had more than twice the rain as Alpine - 2.90 inches to 1.35.

As we said, it just depends on where you are.

For instance, the Chisos Mountains Basin, located in the center of Big Bend National Park, has received over 20 inches of rainfall for the calendar year. This is the second time since 1992, and the first since 2003, that rainfall in the Chisos Basin has eclipsed the 20-inch mark.

Throughout much of the 1990s, rainfall in the Big Bend region was low, and drought conditions developed and persisted even until recently. With several years of well-above average precipitation in the 2000s, drought conditions in the region have been lifted.

Rainfall in 2007 has been well spaced and has been more abundant than in many of the recently preceding years. This pattern has often resulted in many areas of the park having a brilliant green color and other positive effects such as healthy spring flows and many visiting bird species. The relatively high levels of rainfall should benefit much of the park's flora and fauna and possibly provide for excellent future shows of wildflowers.

Park Superintendent Bill Wellman said, "We are pleased to be receiving rainfall amounts that are in line or even above our normal expectations and look forward hopefully to an abundant spring wildflower bloom this coming season."

With three months to go until year's end, the park hopes to meet or exceed annual average rainfall amounts throughout its varied areas.

If any readers would like to help the Avalanche keep track of rain totals, please share your recordings with us each week. Send your month-to-date rain totals, broken down by date, to the Avalanche by 5 p.m. each Monday to:mikeperry@alpineavalanche.com

West Fest at the Post

There were the guys from Lampasas and a Marathonian crew full of craziness that set up the Long Branch Saloon - not just for drinks but also for cookin' and showing off. Then there were the Alpine women who set up two camps, one to focus on brisket and cabrito, the other dedicated to beans and a dessert.

WT national parks are topic at meeting

Two members of the U.S. House and the four superintendents of West Texas' national park treasures had an informal sit-down Saturday at the Gage Hotel in Marathon, a follow-up to the congressmen's tour of San Antonio's historic missions, Amistad National Recreation Area, Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.

Alpine ISD nears the 1,000 mark

Just five more students and Alpine ISD will hit the magic number - 1,000.

Rain varies from yard to yard

Avalanche staff