Concord had a very wet July, but it was nothing compared to Hanover or Keene 

Staff and wire reports

Published: 08-03-2023 6:55 PM

If it seemed that July was an extra wet month in Concord, you’re right: Total rainfall measured at the city airport was 63% higher than the long-term average for the month – 5.66 inches compared to 3.62.

But western New Hampshire is not impressed. By their standards, we were practically dry.

The National Weather Service just released precipitation totals for last month. It says Hanover saw 111% more rain than it usually does for July – 10.24 vs. 4.48 – while Keene saw a whopping 170% increase in total rainfall: 12.1 inches vs. an average of 4.49.

Keene, in fact, had as much rain in July as did water-logged Montpelier, which saw its wettest month ever. Fortunately for Keene, geography helped it avoid the fate of Vermont’s capital which had several feet of water flood its entire downtown. Cheshire County has far fewer of the steep valleys that channeled so much water into parts of the Green Mountain State with disastrous results.

Elsewhere in New Hampshire, Mount Washington recorded its wettest July ever with more than 17 inches of rain, leaving hikers to deal with slippery trails and more difficult stream crossings.

“The rainy weather has caused slippery trail conditions which have led to many of the injuries seen by Conservation Officers recently,” Fish and Game officials said in a press release about a hiker who needed rescue after getting stranded on a ledge. “Appropriate footwear should be worn while hiking – hiking boots that provide support, protection and traction are recommended.”

Many parts of Maine and Massachusetts were also much wetter than normal.

If you’re tired of the dampness, the weather service has some bad news. Their 30-day outlook says August is likely to be above average in precipitation and below average in temperature.

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