Rainfall wrap up from InMenlo weather watcher Bill Russ

Since InMenlo’s founding – which was about the same time as the start of a new rainfall year – local weather watcher Bill Russ has promptly and accurately reported the rainfall for each 24 hour period, often contrasting his rain gauge measurements in central Menlo Park with those of a friend who lives further west in Sharon Heights.

Bill has called Menlo home since 1952, and he and his wife Sally have lived in their current West Menlo house, where the rainfall gauge is located, for 44 years.  He started measuring rainfall because, he says, “It’s something old guys do.” Initially he had a network of buddies that he compared recordings with but with the passage of time, that group has shrunk, largely due to inevitable transitions.

But Bill persists, carefully recording precipitation in his dual gauges. When not occupied with the weather, Bill, with Sally, applies his vigor to walks around Menlo and active participation at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Here is his year end wrap up:

“In the past rainfall year – which began July 1, 2009 and ends today (June 30, 2010) – I recorded 21.39 inches. That contrasts to 14.85″ in 2009, 16.15″ in 2008, 8.2″ in 2007, 24.15″ in 2006 and 24.35” in 2005.

“My 21.39″ is identical to the San Jose Mercury report of 21.39″ at SFO and compares to San Jose at 17.19″. In years past, my total usually falls about at the mid-point between the two.”

Photo by Chris Gulker