Gainesville recorded nearly 16 inches more rain last year than usually falls in a year's time.
According to the National Weather Service, rainfall at the end of 2018 in Gainesville totaled 69.94 inches. The yearly average is 53.98 inches.
It was much the same across the rest of north Georgia. Atlanta recorded 70.89 inches; normal is 49.71. Athens picked up 69.94 inches, compared a yearly average of 46.33. Similar end-of-year statistics were reported by Rome and Cartersville.
The new year is starting across Georgia as the old one ended - with more rain. By Thursday, Gainesville had recorded 1.05 inches for the first three days of the year, compared to an average of .35 inches during that time period.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, according to forecasters: drier conditions are expected to prevail over the next several days.
