Rain threat diminishing
Forecast amounts trimmed back, and tomorrow could be rain-free.
The National Weather Service forecasts were calling for a widespread 1 to 3 inches of rain from this round of showers, but in some places evidently that's not going to happen.
The updated forecasts now see perhaps an additional 0.2 inches for the remains of the day and tonight. Tomorrow, the chance of showers drops to 20 percent.
Overnight, some places were hammered, with parts of South Jersey receiving up to 2 to 3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
But at the official measuring station in Philadelphia, the total so far since midnight has been 0.26 inches. At the weather office in Mount Holly, the total is around a third of an inch.
With the fresh rains, the precipitation amount since Jan. 1 at Philadelphia International Airport now stands at 15.04 inches, and the 2012 deficit remains formidable.
By our count, the year-to-date precipitation totals through yesterday were the fifth lowest in the period of record, dating to 1873.
The driest such period occurred in 1992, 12.77 inches, followed by 1995, 14.49; 1955, 14.68, and 1963.
The region should get more shots at rain next week. Shower chances pop up again in the forecasts for Monday and Tuesday, and for Thursday night and Friday.