Pours, and pours, and pours, and pours, and pours to a total of 6 inches of rain within 48 hours. And there is more to come! I have never seen this much rain in such a short period of time since we moved to this house. During one period within 45 minutes we received more than 2 inches of rain. Way too much rain to come at once. I like the rain spread out over multiple days to eventually reach the same amount, definitely not a deluge. At one point I was beginning to consider building an ark. What made the flooding worse was that the ground was already completely saturated from several days of intermittent rain.
So how bad is it? Take a look at our own personal monsoon.
Here’s where the flooding of our yard began, in the street. The rain follows a drain pipe into our neighbor’s yard and down through a culvert into the adjoining property areas.
Here’s the culvert full of rain water. Imagine how beneficial all that water would be if we could save it for July and August!
Then the water comes our way. I took this picture from our front porch overlooking the garden corridor. You can even see the ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud standing tall before the flooding rains.
Here is a look up our newly formed river. The tree on the left is next to our house, you can see how close the water is but even with 4.66 inches of rain in one day it never reached our house.
This is where I started to get a little concerned. These small evergreens are the hemlocks that will eventually be a privacy screen. All around them is mulch that has probably been washed downstream. I’ve actually built this area up considerably and it is getting a substantially lower amount of flooding than it could have. I think I may need a levee!
Now we’re looking out at the backyard. There is a small berm between our yard and the neighbor’s backyard that keeps the flood at bay. 98% of that river is on someone else’s property but the edges of the river wash away the mulch I’ve placed around our trees. There will be a lot of cleanup needed when things dry out.
The tree in this picture is a maple and there is a Japanese dappled willow (Salix integra) behind it. Both should be able to handle the flooding. At this point the water was a good 15 feet into our yard, the most its ever traveled into our yard.
The river now flows to the back of our property. The stand of trees to the right end of the river is on our land while the lake forming is next door. There is another drainage culvert on the other side of that stand of trees that takes the water downhill toward a community lake.
Here’s a closer look at the same scene. The weather report said this morning that we’ll have rain and thunderstorms for several more days. There is a stationary front sitting right on top of us that is directing all the rain through Tennessee. I’m a little concerned about the vegetable garden but hopefully the raised beds are draining well and aren’t getting too soggy. They will be ready to see the sun whenever it comes out and so will I!
Oh my! Thats a lot of rain. I hope your yard doesn’t get washed away!!! Does this happen often?
Oh boy, that is too much rain in your backyard. I am so glad it did not reach the house. What a mess. Hopefully it will dry out soon. I can’t believe it still continues to rain though!!
Oh Dave, I thought it was bad here! There is no place for more to go…the creeks are swollen. I am sure my new plantings are floating away.
Here’s my May poem~~Rain, rain go away and come again on a July day!
Gail
Wow! Maybe a “rain garden” like the Cumberland River compact describes. Here’s a link http://www.cumberlandrivercompact.org/programs_rainbarrels.shtml#3
Hope you didn’t lose any plants.
I’m glad Vanderbilt didn’t flood like last time.
Just voted for your beautiful arbor… Good luck!
In a another month, we will be wishing for another rain (flood). Good luck!
We had the same amount of rain but I live high and it runs off quick. Good luck with the contest. I just cast a vote for you.
Donna
I thought we had a lot of rain! I hope it clears out soon.
I just voted and will every day!
That is a lot of rain. I really hope it stops so your poor yard can dry out.
That is a ridiculous amount of rain. I’ve been praying for a few drops for awhile now, hope a bit comes my way. You can count on me voting for you again Dave!
Holy cow! That’s a lot of rain. Hope the weather folks are wrong and you start to dry out…
We had a rain ‘event’ here last May and to be honest it was a bit frightening. I hope all is well and receeding!
Rob
I’ll spell that ‘receding’ this time.
flowrgrl,
It happens about once a year but never this bad. I thought the alterations I made to the side would help. They did but the rains were much deeper.
Tina,
Thankfully I don’t think it could ever reach the house. We sit on a small plateau on the downside of a larger hill. The water should always run downhill to the lake but it does take some time.
Gail,
Good poem, I definitely agree with the sentiment! We’re past flood stage here for the Duck River. This afternoon it hit 32.4 feet, flood stage is 32.0. Swollen is right!
Carole,
Some rainbarrels are definitely in order! I remember that flood a while back. I think this rain system was sitting on top of us due to a front funneling weather from Arkansas.
Thanks Laura for your vote! Every vote counts!
Catherine,
A dry yard would be most welcome. I’m not sure I’ll see that for a while.
Racquel,
You really don’t want this rain! At least not all of it. Of course there may not be anything left over but a sprinkle by the time it gets to your garden!
Katie,
Thanks, but unfortunately I think the weather guy got it right! Rain for 10 days or so. Lowest chance last I saw was a 40%!
ROb,
However you spell it, I just want it to go away! For a little while then come back in July and August. I’m not asking for much! 😉
That’s alot of rain, sure hope it quits soon…
I already voted today, me and my husband…
That is very unfortunate. Didn’t it do this last May, I remeber visiting my grandma in Western KY and going to Nashville and seeing all of the flooded fields. In Lexington it wasn’t has bad.
Jake