Rain continues to fall making this summer the fourth wettest in Fulton history.
During the month of June 8.83 inches fell in Fulton - 4.32 inches more than the normal amount of rainfall for June, which is approximately 4.51 inches, according to data provided by the National Weather Service (NWS). As of July 21, 6.99 inches of rain has fallen, which is 2.33 inches more than the normal 4.66 inches. This summer so far has seen a total 15.82 inches so far but more rain is in the forecast.
Rainfall data for Fulton dates back to 1893 with records showing three years that saw more rain in June and July: 2008 with 16.72 inches, 1993, the year of the great flood, with 17.18 inches and 1981 with 20.8 inches - 1981 also had the wettest July on record with a total rainfall of 13.53 inches, according to the data.
In the last 60 days alone, the NWS observed between 10 and 15 inches of rain when the normal for this time of year would be about eight inches. The amount of rainfall has caused river levels to rise and an area of the Missouri River near Chamois to reach 20.6 feet on July 20, according to NWS data. The flooding stage for that section of the river is 17 feet, but levels were expected to return to normal yesterday.
"It's been a very wet summer with all the flooding we've seen and it's not over yet," Service Hydrologist with the NWS in St. Louis Mark Fuchs said.
Forecasts for more than a day out aren't as accurate, Fuchs said, which could mean the rest of the week could bring rainfall in June an July higher on the data set.
"We'll see what the week brings, with rain chances in the forecast it could be interesting," Missouri State Climatologist Pat Guinan said.
The NWS determined a 40 percent chance of above average rainfall for August in the Missouri River Basin area and more than a 40 percent chance of above average rainfall for August, September and October, Fuchs said, which would be problematic for harvest at Missouri vineyards.
Lee Ruppert and his wife Regina run Serenity Valley Winery in Fulton. Their vineyard is only a couple years old, which can cause the vines to have "wet feet," which is when the roots are saturated with groundwater for a long time, Lee Ruppert said. The rain also strips the nitrogen out of the soil, which is metabolized by the roots and turned into amino acids, which act as proteins for the vines, according to the Practical Winery and Vineyard Journal.
However, the amount of rain Missouri is seeing isn't necessarily the problem, it's the frequency of storms in the central Missouri region.
"In Missouri we don't just grow grapes," Ruppert said. "We grow grapes, bugs and fungus. In order to maintain control we have a spray schedule to keep fungus at bay."
The frequent storms prevents the fungal sprays from doing their job, Ruppert said.
If the forecast for August, which is Ruppert's harvesting time, are accurate, the quality of the grapes can be affected dramatically. A lot of rain leading up to harvest could change the grapes' flavor and cause some of them to burst.
"In Missouri you never know," Ruppert said. "You can only make as good a wine as your grapes."