Hays Post

After enduring a persistent drought that has led to water restrictions across the region, a wet 2014 certainly was welcome as the summer turned to fall.

Beginning with a June that saw almost 6 inches of rain more than average, rains continues through the summer. Fall began on Tuesday with more than 3 inches of rain, according to the official measurement at the K-State Ag Research Center in Hays.

“We’re shy an inch to getting our yearly total,” said K-State’s Joe Becker.

That in light of the fact that rainfall has been below overage in six of the eight-plus months of 2014.

“We’ve been in the minus most of the summer except for June,” Becker said. “That’s what really zoomed us ahead.”

So far this year, Hays has received 22.12 inches of rainfall, slightly behind the average for an entire year — 23.46.

But chances are it won’t be a record-breaker, Becker said — not even close.

In 1951, Hays recorded 43.34 inches of rain. In more recent memory, almost 38 inches of precipitation was recorded in 1993.