So far this month, Burlington, Vermont has received 6.09 inches of rain.
In August 1955, Burlington received 11.54 inches of rain.
In August 1965, Burlington received 6.27 inches of rain. In August 1977, Burlington received 6.27 inches of rain. In August, 2004, Burlington received 7.87 inches of rain. All higher than August 2011.
Joe Romm says that this month’s rains are 100 year rains. Because he doesn’t check facts and spouts alarmist nonsense almost 24X7.
Here… I’m tossing you a hanging curveball
http://articles.philly.com/2011-09-01/news/30029283_1_state-climatologist-extreme-rain-drought
Steve – I do not know if the any of the rainfall amounts from Irene are in fact 100-year rains; however, it is worth noting that Burlington is well north of the areas in Vermont that were hardest hit. I think it is fine that you are questioning rainfall amounts and whether or not Irene was in fact a hurricane when it made landfall. However, the extraordinary impacts on the ground in southern Vermont, western Massachusetts, the Catskill area of NY clearly provide evidence of the extraordinary nature of this flooding event.
The ground was already saturated. The amount of rain did not match 1955, and the floods did not match 1927.
Do you know what the definition of a 100-year rain is? How is the storm in Vermont NOT in that category?
If there are two 100-year rains within 60 years, that suggests that there is trouble, not that the description of the rain is inaccurate.