Even with a long dry spell, 2012 was an exceptionally wet year for the South Sound.
The National Weather Service recorded more than 48 inches of rain at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport station, about 11 inches more than its annual average.
That makes 2012 the seventh-wettest year since officials began measuring at Sea-Tac in 1945.
That’s despite the fact that the region had 48 consecutive days without measurable rain this summer, the second-longest dry period on record.
Most months had above-average rainfall outside the dry spell, Weather Service meteorologist Johnny Burg said. Before the rain stopped toward the end of July, Sea-Tac already had 5 more inches than expected, he said.
That’s partly thanks to La Niña weather patterns, he added.
After the rain picked back up in October, a few days in particular saw downpours, Burg said.
“The rain started falling again, and we had some pretty heavy amounts, as usual, for the fall,” he said — 1.36 inches Oct. 30, 1.26 on Nov. 23 and 1.4 on Nov. 30.
As for an explanation for the rainy winter following the drought, he said, “I think it’s probably just Mother Nature compensating.”
Alexis Krell: 253-597-8268 alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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