By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The official overnight rainfall in Hays at 9 a.m. Wednesday was 0.49 inches measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.

According to weather record keeper Joe Becker, “as of today we have now received over the total yearly average precipitation amount of 22.75.”

So far in 2016, 23.11 inches of precipitation has fallen in Hays. The month of August contributed 3.87 inches to that total.

Records at the ag research center show the most precipitation in one year in Hays was 43.34 inches back in 1951. Just five years later, only 9.21 inches of precipitation fell in Hays, the driest year recorded.

“The subsoil moisture amount still remains low,” Becker noted, “but let’s hope for more slow, soaking rain and soon, snow.”