Weather Research Centertm

Monday, December 29, 1997

HOUSTON - Rainfall has surpassed the 60-inch mark this year, the first time since 1991 and only the 17th time since records have been kept. The total rainfall for Houston this year is 13.55 inches above normal at Bush Intercontinental Airport and an amazing 32.75 inches above normal at Hobby Airport. With no rainfall expected through the end of this month, these numbers should stand. Normal yearly rainfall for Houston is 46.07 inches at Bush IAH and 45.70 inches at Hobby Airport. Through December 29, Bush IAH has received 60.24" and Hobby Airport has received 79.97 inches. The following table represents the 17 other years in which Houston has received over 60 inches of rain:

Eleven of these years were classified as El Nino years - denoted by asterisks. Of the seven years that were not El Nino's, all but two had tropical systems. These two years were 1968 and 1981. The wettest months in these years were May and June. May received 13.24 inches of rain in 1968 and June received 11.18 inches. In 1981, May received 8.75 inches and June received 9.65 inches.

The wettest year on record was 1979 when 83.02 inches of rain fell at Hobby Airport. That was the year that Tropical Storm Claudette visited Houston and dumped a record 43 inches of rain at Alvin. The next wettest year was 1981 when 82.14 inches of rain fell at Hobby Airport. The record for Bush IAH is 70.16 inches set in 1973.