Too Much of a Good Thing
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118365)
Gainesville, Florida
June 8, 2020 11:51am CST
We've been in a drought here in the southeastern United States. Not a horrible drought, but a drought nonetheless. With the approach of the tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico this past weekend, weather forecasters were welcoming the rain and the drought relief that it would provide.
Then the rains came, starting Friday afternoon. Then all day Saturday. Then all day Sunday. A non-stop deluge of rain. All of a sudden, weather forecasters started singing a different tune. Too much rain. Too much of a good thing. Now we were facing the prospects of widespread flooding.
A couple of my friends posted on Facebook last night that they had received 16 inches of rain (40.6 cm) according to their rain gauges. I was sure we had received a lot of rain, but certainly not that much rain! The forecasters had only said 3-5 inches (7.6-12.7 cm) of rain would fall in our area, so I thought maybe my friends weren't reading their rain gauges correctly.
But sure enough, this morning when I checked my rain gauge in my backyard, it too indicated 16 inches of rain. Just looking at how high the water level was in the meadow behind my house also gave me an indication of how much rain we received. Yep, too much of a good thing.
And of course, as I sit here writing this discussion, I can hear it pouring down rain again outside. I wonder how good my ark building skills are right now?
16 people like this
17 responses
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
8 Jun 20
Wow! That is a lot of rain. I was thinking of the lake that forms in your meadow. It may be time to get a boat. You, not my hubs.
I heard on the news last night that this storm will actually affect states in the midwest, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin and actually hit Canada. 
5 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Yes, the meadow behind my house is completely flooded. The rising waters got pretty close to the back of my house last night. So far so good today, the water doesn't seem to be getting any higher. A boat would probably be a good thing right now! Now I just have to watch out for gators trying to move into the area.
The storm basically is going straight up the middle of the country, so it will definitely bring a lot of rain to the midwest and upper midwest states. Even Canada will get some rain from the storm.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@DianneN We got more rain this afternoon, but it's been a little bit more sporadic today. So far, the water level in the "lake" behind my house has not risen any higher. I think I'm out of the danger zone now with the rising water. Now, the alligators on the other hand, I will probably be dealing with them all summer long!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246334)
• United States
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc So glad the water didn't get into your house. That would be just awful! However, alligators would be worse. 
It looks like we won't be hit in CT for a change.
It looks like we won't be hit in CT for a change.2 people like this
@Fa_Maverick (9458)
• Australia
8 Jun 20
I think we need to add Noah onto the end of your title...
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
I might have to rename myself Noah if this rain doesn't stop soon. I might have to break out my tools and start building that ark!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@Fa_Maverick I'll get right to work on growing that beard!
3 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (94778)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Jun 20
That often happens. You get more than you need of something. Hope it stops soon.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Why can't it be that way when I get my tax return? Or win the lottery? haha
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (94778)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc We got 4 dollars back this year on taxes 
But at least we didnt owe.
But at least we didnt owe.2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@wolfgirl569 I owed $2000 this year. First time in a really long time that I had to pay. I thought I still had one more year on the child tax credit, but I was wrong. That one mistake cost me. But I've already made my withholding adjustments for next year, so I should be okay for next year's taxes!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
It sure is. Both of the rivers that I tube and kayak on will be reaching flood stage soon, probably by Thursday. If we don't get anyone rain over the next day or two, the rivers should crest around Friday. That's bad news for all the people who live in flood-prone areas near the rivers.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (155562)
• United States
8 Jun 20
I'm sorry you're having too much of a good thing. Looks like Cristobal will miss Ohio and go west of us and up into Canada. Stay safe and dry!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@LindaOHio Keep your fingers crossed that if you do get rain, it's not as bad as what we got.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
The bad part about the storm going west of you is that all the rain is on the east side of the storm. So it's possible you may get some rain from it even though it's nowhere near you.
2 people like this
@freelancermariagrace (27219)
• Philippines
8 Jun 20
That’s a lot of rain for sure.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Don't you get that much rain in the Philippines as well?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@freelancermariagrace I'm sure you do! How long is your rainy season? When does it start and end? Our rainy season usually starts in May, and then continues all the way until October.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (27219)
• Philippines
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc We certainly get a lot of rain during the rainy season. 
2 people like this
@kareng (54331)
• United States
9 Jun 20
Wow! I saw that Florida was hit bad. The Biloxi area of Mississippi was also bad with the highway (90) closing down yesterday because of flooding. We didn't get any heavy rain here but Baton Rouge had some flash flooding that started on Saturday. I knew we were jinxed when that darn weatherman said of there is not worry with this little tropical storm. It won't come near us. Ha! I hope he learned a lesson about his personal forecasts on tropical storms and hurricanes.
2 people like this
@kareng (54331)
• United States
14 Jun 20
@moffittjc That's no fair that you have your very own personal meteorologist!! 
1 person likes this
@kareng (54331)
• United States
20 Jun 20
@moffittjc Put in for afternoon showers for me here in MS for the week I'm away. The garden will need the rain!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jun 20
@kareng He does come in handy quite a lot! haha
1 person likes this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
8 Jun 20
That`s a lot of rain. I hope everything is ok in your place 
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
9 Jun 20
@moffittjc Does it happens yearly there? 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
We have widespread flooding right now, and our rivers will reach flood stage on Thursday and then crest on Friday. After that, the water should recede pretty quickly. So we'll have floodwaters for almost a week before everything starts to drain off.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
@m_audrey6788 It used to happen far less frequently, but it seems with global warming it is happening more often.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8609)
• Norway
9 Jun 20
@moffittjc It's like the white stuff they use in movies about Christmas, but it comes all by itself! ;-)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
What is this word "snow" that you speak of? It's a foreign concept to me, I'm not sure I understand what it is!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
@Torunn Ohhhhh. Is that what that white stuff is in the Christmas movies? And this whole time I thought it was blankets of cotton!
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
15 Jun 20
@moffittjc That's the way it is here when there has been a lot of rain.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jun 20
@simone10 Things are drying out nicely here and water levels have slowly been inching down. I guess we had a cold front or something come through, because it's been nice and cool and absolutely gorgeous here for the past three days. No rain, plenty of sunshine, and hardly any humidity. Trust me, I'm not complaining one bit, and it's good to help us dry out a little bit from the recent heavy rains and flooding.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jun 20
Our two local rivers reached flood stage yesterday, and the rising water should crest tonight. There is widespread flooding, but most of it is in undeveloped or rural areas. In the urban sections, it’s mostly just been street flooding.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
8 Jun 20
It's the rainy season!!
Anyone who has lived in Florida any length of time knows we go from drought to flooding to drought to flooding and a 'cold wave' when it hits the 70s--at least here in South Florida!!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
How much rain did you get from the tropical storm? It seemed like most of the outer bands and outflow was hitting central and north Florida.
@Tampa_girl7 (48890)
• United States
17 Jun 20
Hopefully it came in handy for the farmers or someone’s garden.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 20
@Tampa_girl7 I'm not sure if there was any flooding damage to any of the farm fields. Hadn't really heard anything about it on the news, so maybe they made it through just fine. One things for sure, I know they are glad the drought is over!
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jun 20
Too much rain (and subsequent flooding) can't be good for any of the local farmers. Hopefully it didn't hurt any of their crops.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
I have my raft tube for floating in the springs and rivers that I can use!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
@JudyEv Yes, the alligators are likely moving in. I've already spied one gator nearby the other day.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325345)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun 20
@moffittjc That's good! Are you likely to get alligators moving in? It must be very dangerous living there - much worse than Australia!! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
That's what our rivers will be doing in two more days. Whenever it rains a lot, it takes several days for all the water to drain to the rivers. So the rivers always overflow several days after the rain has already cleared out.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jun 20
@Nevena83 Our two biggest local rivers reached flood stage this morning, and aren't expected to crest until tomorrow night, so there will be widespread flooding around those areas. Fortunately, most of the area around our rivers are protected parks and forests, so there are not a lot of homes or businesses around that would suffer a lot of damage.
1 person likes this
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
10 Jun 20
@moffittjc You're right. The rivers here are already full of water, we are afraid of floods if the rain continues.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
13 Jun 20
I hate the extremes drought vs floods, freezing or colder than normal temps and the next day nineties. I look forward to a day in the future when we get what is needed it what we want. Much like it can be raining when traveling down the interstate and three minutes later sunny.
At least nature the grounds will be able to soak much of that up before it gets worse once the rain quits anyway.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18885)
• United States
9 Jun 20
We had a lot of rain a few weeks ago. Not sure how much. I'm so happy for the sunny weather we are having.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
It rained again today, but thankfully not for very long. The humidity this morning was unbearable.
1 person likes this
@Elizaby (6902)
• Pensacola, Florida
9 Jun 20
e got a quite a bit of rain more than enough to take us off the drought monitor. Though only spotty showers today it is still quite breezy and the red flags is flying though today it is single so the surfers can go in. and I aw it is headed up to visit@justfor him and others of you along the way.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
You'll probably have those breezy conditions for at least one more day as the tropical moisture and air from the Gulf follow in behind the storm.
1 person likes this
