April showers could truly bring May flowers this year following the 3.51 inches of rain received over the weekend.

Polk County hasn’t been in a drought classification since the middle of January, mainly from above average rainfall, particularly in January and April.

The area received 3.51 inches of rain on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and April 28, which put the month of April 3.10 inches of rain above normal.

According to the National Weather Service, the average rainfall for the month of April is 4.58 inches, based on averages from 1981 through 2010. April 2013 received 7.68 inches of rain, including 2.71 inches on April 28 and 0.80 inches on April 27.

The months of January and April this year both brought above average rainfall, with January receiving a total of 9.17 inches of rain compared to the January normal of 5.10 inches.

February and March 2013 saw slightly below average rainfall, with 4.48 inches of rain in February, compared to February’s 4.86-inch average and 4.85 inches received in March, compared to a March 5.76-inch average.

January saw the heaviest rainfall so far this year with the area listed in abnormally dry conditions from Jan. 1 through Jan. 15, according to the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council. Jan. 16 recorded 1.48 inches of rain then Jan. 18 recording 2.84 inches for the Tryon area, according to the National Weather Service.

Polk County has suffered drought conditions several times during the past few years, with the area listed as in a moderate drought the month of December 2012 and abnormally dry the month of November 2012. Polk County has been out of any drought conditions since Jan. 15, 2013, which was the first of not being in drought or abnormally dry conditions since October 2012.

Following the weekend rains and lower than normal temperatures, this week’s forecast is for mostly sunny skies with a high temperature of 76 yesterday and high of 70 degrees today with a 20 percent chance of rain both today and tomorrow.

Tryon precipitation records

Highest Daily Precipitation (inches)
Days: 1/1 – 12/31
Length of period: 1 day
Years: 1917-2013

Rank          Value           Ending Date
1                      9.05                10/25/1918
2                      8.47                9/8/2004
3                      7.50                8/15/1928
4                      7.15                 8/27/1995,
8/13/1940
6                     6.85                 8/18/1986
7                     6.55                  7/2/2003
8                     6.38                 9/1/1979
9                     6.25                 6/18/1982
10                   6.09                 8/18/1985

• According to the National Weather Service.