Stormy summer

County still behind on rainfall, despite frequent showers

  • The recent surge in rainfall across the area has inflicted costly damage. Trees and power lines were downed as part of a Saturday thunderstorm; another heavy outpour late-Monday resulted in a section of the Cherohala Skyway at Tennessee mile marker 4.5 being washed away.
    The recent surge in rainfall across the area has inflicted costly damage. Trees and power lines were downed as part of a Saturday thunderstorm; another heavy outpour late-Monday resulted in a section of the Cherohala Skyway at Tennessee mile marker 4.5 being washed away.

    The 1933 song “Stormy Weather” would certainly be a fitting one for Graham County this summer.

    Between June 1 – Aug. 14, there has been rain on 34 days – with storms on 23 of those days.

    Saturday was no exception, as rescue squads, the N.C. Department of Transportation, Graham County Sheriff’s deputies, the U.S. Forest Service, Duke Energy employees and 911 dispatchers were all kept busy for hours. The calls for downed trees and/or power lines blocking roads began coming into the Graham County 911 Center around 5:30 p.m., as the storm hit.

    Crews responded to Upper Cove Road on Yellow Creek, for a tree on the power line; Cindy Cove Road on Upper Tuskegee, where a tree was blocking both lanes; Meadow Branch Road, where a tree was blocking the road; Farley Branch Road, for a tree on the power line and blocking both lanes; and Maple Springs Road in the Santeetlah area, for a tree blocking the road near the observation deck.

    As if this were not enough, there was a call about a speeding motorist on Panther Creek Road; a motorcycle accident near Deals Gap; and a person who appeared to intentionally drive his pickup into a rock wall near Cheoah Dam on U.S. Hwy. 129, and was arrested.

    But what about the overall numbers?

    Graham County had more rain for the year by the end of July 2022 – with 46.87 inches – as compared to 46.30 by the end of July this year.

    Monday’s late-night downpour resulted in over 3½ inches of rain.

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