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Hernando Today

County weathers wet week

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: July 4, 2009

Depending on where you live in Hernando County, you saw a sizable amount of rain this week.

Some areas overall received 1 to 2 inches. Others 4 to 6. Still others, especially near the coast, even saw up to 8 inches.

Rick Davis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin, said it is typical with these storm fronts for one spot to be dry and another to get inundated with rain.

Case in point: On Wednesday, one of the wettest days of the week, the eastern part of the county got only a quarter- to a half-inch of rain. People who lived in the western section, including Royal Highlands, Weeki Wachee Acres and Aripeka, received 1 to 3 inches.

Davis said coastal dwellers saw around 4 inches on Wednesday alone.

"Certainly Hernando County has seen a good bit of rain," Davis said.

But for the most part, Hernando County got through this stormy week unscathed. Except for Barnett Road in Brooksville, most roads were passable.

On the whole, the county fared better than its neighbor to the south, where some roads in West Pasco are still underwater.

From now through Monday, things will dry out some, to the delight of holiday-goers anxious to enjoy outdoor picnics and fireworks.

Next week should begin a return to the normal summer pattern of scattered afternoon thunderstorms, Davis said.

This week's rains have also recharged the aquifer, the underground layers of rock and sand that hold water. In southwest Florida, more than 80 percent of the water supply comes from aquifers.

As of July 2, the level was at 0.43 feet, up from a negative 0.07 in May, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud).

The normal aquifer range for this area is in the range of 0 to 4 feet.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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