Steady rains were expected today through most of Maryland, but some agricultural experts said more will be needed to save some crops already harmed by the two-month drought in the state.
A stationary frontal system continued to hover over much of Maryland, bringing morning rain and drizzle and the prospect of afternoon thunderstorms this evening. More rain is possible tomorrow before a gradual clearing begins tomorrow evening, said Bill Miller, a forecaster for the National Weather Service.
Today's precipitation follows scattered rainfall, heavy in places, yesterday morning. More than 3 inches fell at College Park, 3 inches at Bowie, more than 2 at Salisbury and Silver Spring and more than 1 1/2 at Easton. Westminster and Pikesville recorded nearly an inch and a reporting station in Bel Air logged more than a half-inch.
"Where we're averaging about 6 to 7 inches [of rain] below normal right now, we need quite a bit to get us back to normal," said Richard Curran, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service agent for Baltimore County. "But 1 to 2 inches would be quite helpful."
Said Roberta Weber, an extension agent in Howard County: "Halleluiah! The corn's already looking better. But we still could use a couple days of slow soft rains."