Western Kentucky rainfall nearly double the average

Western Kentucky is experiencing significantly high percentages of rain and flooding.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) station in Paducah, the amount of rainfall since Jan. 1 is 40 percent the normal amount. Rachel Trevino, a meteorologist for the NWS, said February’s rainfall is nearly double what it should be. 

“We’ve been running above normal since the fall already for the month of February, 2.74 inches above normal. We’ve had 11 inches since January 1, which is 4.71 inches above normal, probably 40 percent above our normal amount,” she explained. “So we’re pushing almost double what we should have.”

Trevino said because the soil is saturated, any amount of rain over half an inch could result in the closing of barrier roads. The NWS predicts a dryer spell with very little precipitation over the next five days. Trevino said the rivers are on the way down and will continue to go down over the next week. 

Here’s the weather forecast for Hopkinsville through Monday.

Hannah Bullard

Author at WKMS

Hannah Bullard is a Murray State Journalism major. She found her place in radio during her second year in Murray. She is from Herndon, Kentucky, a small farming community on the Kentucky/Tennessee stateline. She first discovered her love for NPR when she stumbled upon "This American Life" while traveling. She believes everyone has a story worth telling. Her favorite pieces to produce are centered around people and their community. She hopes to continue a career in journalism through broadcast or non-profit work.