Though the recent rainfall in the Charleston area seemed significant to some residents, only 0.07 inches fell said an Eastern geographer.

Cameron Craig, an Eastern geographer, said though some places in the area appeared to receive ample rainfall, other places received minimal or no rainfall at all.

Overall what fell averaged out to only a few hundredths of an inch.

“Seven hundredths is nothing,” Craig said. “Across a greater expanse it’s nothing.”

He said the reason the rain fell differently throughout the area is because there is a lack of organization in the atmosphere caused by dry conditions.

Craig said moisture in the soil rises with warmth and assists in cloud formation and allows for rain to fall more easily.

Because there is less moisture in the soil, this processs happens less often creating disorganization and sporadic rainfall.

He said because some residents of the area saw abundant rainfall, this can create a misconception that the drought is ending when it is still affecting much of the town.

“The farmers desperately need the rain,” Craig said. “We’re seeing vegetation around here wilt. The corn is wilting. It looks as it normally should in November.”

He said the Charleston area experienced cooler temperatures the past few days because of the water from the rain absorbed some of the area’s heat.

Now that that water is evaporating, however, Craig said the temperature will likely continue to rise back into the 100s.

He said he expects the drought and high temperatures to continue for much of the summer.

“We’re going to take it week-by-week,” he said. “The drought is more widespread than it was before.”

Craig said Charleston is better off than some areas because of Lake Charleston.

He said there are towering cumulus clouds floating above the town because there is some moisture in the soil.

He said even though the city has not issued a mandatory conservation effort, it may still be a good idea for residents to use water sparingly.

“It’s always a good idea to not have to get to that point,” Craig said.

He said there is a chance of rain later this week but that Charleston needs around 7 inches of rainfall to get back to normal.

However, he said the rain would hopefully fall over time.

If the rain fell all at once, Craig said it would likely result in flooding, similar to what Texas recently experienced, because the ground would not have time to absorb the water.

He said the most likely way for Charleston to receive continual rain is for the jet stream to move further south, but the atmosphere is simply acting a different way.

Seth Schroeder can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].