April Fools'? Near-record rain, but "drought watch" remains for now
Before rains started, region was running a precipitation deficit.
The flood advisories have been taken down, and the final rain totals from Friday's end-of-March soaking generally varied from 1.5 to nearly 2.5 inches.
A total of 1.64 inches was measured at Philadelphia International Airport, 1.53 of that on Friday, just shy of the March 31 record of 1.57, set in 1980.
What haven't been taken down yet officially are the drought watches in the region, and that's not an April Fools' observation.
For the month, Philly finished about about a half-inch above normal, with 4.27 inches of precipitation, which, you might remember, included a significant heaping of sleet.
Still, the New Jersey and Pennsylvania environmental agencies have the entire region remains under drought watch.
Before the rain started Friday, Philadelphia was running a healthy precipitation deficit for the year.
But more rain is likely Monday night and Tuesday, and again on Thursday, and by this time next week, we predict the watch will be toast.