Record rainfall recorded this week

Tuesday was officially the wettest July day the Town of Ekalaka has ever had. National Weather Service data, which is recorded at 5 p.m. each day, shows that between 5 p.m. on Monday and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Ekalaka officially received 2.72 inches of moisture. The previous record high for one July day occurred on July 13 of 1997 when Ekalaka received 2.35 inches.

Tuesday tied for the eighth wettest single day ever recorded in Ekalaka. Six June days spanning from 1915 to 2007 have had more precipitation. On May 1, 2008, 2.97 inches of precipitation and 12 inches of snow was recorded. May 2 of 2008 followed with 1.56 inches of precipitation and 15 new inches of snow.

May 3 of 1955 also shows 2.72 inches of precipitation and is tied with Tuesday as the eighth wettest single day ever recorded in Ekalaka.

Most of the 2.72 inches that broke the July record happened during two separate thunderstorms late Monday evening.

Through nine July days this year, Ekalaka has received a total of 4.44 inches of precipitation. The all time average for July precipitation in town is only 1.80 inches. The highest ever July total was 9.03 inches; recorded in July of 1993.

The wettest year on record occurred in 1971 when Ekalaka received 26.95 inches. The total so far in 2019 is 15.6, already 0.41 inches higher then the average yearly precipitation since 1896.

Unofficial reports from outlying areas totaled anywhere between less than an inch and nearly 4.5 inches of rain on Monday night. With measurable precipitation recorded every day except one so far this July, already saturated soil exemplified drainage problems throughout town during the thunderstorms and multiple streets were covered in running water. The Eagle has received no official reports of damage, but multiple basements in town were flooded.