Can you put Harrisburg, Pa.'s cumulative rainfall this year into an
historical context? I read that at some point this year we had more
rain than we've had for a similiar time period in 100 years. Is this
true? If not, when did we have more?

mcalsjaj..

It appears that it has been pretty damp in the Harrisburg area this
year.  Through August 31, 2003, 37.47 inches of precipitation has
fallen at the Harrisburg Airport.  This is 9.48 inches above normal. 
For the Summer, this was the 3rd wettest Ssummer on record with 18.59
inches of precipitation for June, July and August.  The wettest was in
1972 with 23.33 inches of rain and the Summer of 1933 with 18.77
inches.  So, in one respect, yes, this has been the wettest point in
30 years when based upon comparisons of rainfall for the Summer
months.

For the year, according to the National Climatic Data Center, you are
"much above normal" in regards to rainfall, but not at a record
levels.  The wettest year ever was 1972, the year Hurricane Agnes came
through.  During only three days, June 20-24, over 15 inches of rain
fell on Harrisburg.  The average annual rainfall for Harrisburg is 36
inches per year.

Thanks again for your question and if you need any additional
clarification, please let me know.

Regards,

-THV


Search Strategy:
harrisburg Pennsylvania year-to-date precipitation records
harrisburg PA "weather records" wettest year
harrisburg PA rainfall totals 2003
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References:

History for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KCXY/2003/8/31/DailyHistory.html

National Weather Service Forecast Office-State College, PA
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/ctp/climo.shtml

Climate at a glance
http://climvis.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/cag3/state_map_display.pl

Hurricane Agnes
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/ctp/features/agnes.shtml

Harrisburg, PA
http://www.officecomputertraining.com/jslhome/weather/viewcitydata.asp?sCity=Harrisburg,%20PA