Wettest October in at least 10 years

UNDATED - As we move into November, the numbers are in on just how wet October was in north Georgia during a month that is typically very dry.

It was the wettest October in the area in years...by far, the wettest in Gainesville in at least 10 years.

This was the wettest October in Gainesville in at least a decade with around 11 inches recorded at Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport. Contrast that with October 2000 when only .10 of an inch fell. In fact, in three of the last ten Octobers, rainfall in Gainesville totaled less than one inch. This year's reading was the most for October in Gainesville since 7.54 inches fell in 2002.

The October rains were a carryover from September which produced widespread and damaging and deadly floods in parts of metro Atlanta and west Georgia. Some places received more than 20 inches of rain in September. The total in Gainesville was 13.72.

All that rain served to push Lake Lanier to and above full pool - 1071 - for the first time in four years and by Friday it was at 1071.68.

And, state climatologist David Stooksbury says Mother Nature may not be done yet. He expects a wetter than usual winter in north Georgia which likely means more flooding because of the already saturated grounds.

Gainesville October rainfall 2000-20009:

2000 .10 inches

2001 1.97 inches

2002 7.54 inches

2003 .90 inches

2004 .86 inches

2005 2.97 inches

2006 5.03 inches

2007 2.20 inches

2008 2.64 inches

2009 10.82 inches

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/10/224411