UA!! Got Rain!!

With an El Nino year like this has been, we have almost lost track of the number of fully formed, named hurricanes that have swept close to the Big Island this year -- 13 or 14 and counting.

Last week we watched as "OHO" blew by dropping a ton of rain...we had four inches in four hours.  Then, during the night, Phil got curious and trudged out with umbrella and flashlight to check the rain gauges again.

In the morning we checked again -- 7.2 inches in 24 hours...and only one small puddle!

When we retired from Humboldt County and relocated to the Big Island, we made a thorough investigation of rainfall so we knew what to expect.  Just south of Pahoa, we get approximately 120-140 inches a year.  We continue to be delighted that 80% of that falls during the night.

CLICK to enlarge map.  Beginning at Hilo, and going mauka (toward the mountain) rainfall increases fast--from 100'/year to 300++ in only 15 miles!  Altitude directly affects rainfall,  especially on the East side.

Rain Man (ua kanaka)

Yes, it is winter here in Puna! In just the last 24 hours, we were blessed with over two inches!  (And, even though it is still raining, there is not a puddle in sight.)

When we first moved in this time last year, we missed our rain gauge we had kept in our yard; during the winter it was a morning ritual to go out and see how much rain we got.  But last year, our rain gauge, along with all our other personal stuff was in a container on its way here.

So, so we decided to just go out and buy one.  Curiously enough, none of the local stores had them, nor did the words "rain gauge" appear to be part of the local vocabulary.  People just looked at us funny when we asked.  Maybe it was for he best since during our first month here (December 2012) the rainfall was DOUBLE it's monthly average.

Anyway, when our household goods finally arrived, of course we got the rain gauge out in the yard so we could resume what has become one of those quirky family rituals.  When Dexter goes out in the morning to pee, Phil follows right behind him over to the rain gauge.  Trouble is, now we realize it is quite possible that we will get MORE than what our rain gauge holds.  (P.S.  I did, after three days, finally have to remove the soggy clothes from the clothes lines and toss them into the drier.)