Rainstorm soaks Clovis

CNJ staff photo: Sharna Johnson A storm swept over Clovis on Thursday, bringing with it much needed rain. The area has been under extreme dry conditions for months, causing increased fire danger and drought.

Have no fear, eastern New Mexico residents. That wet substance from the sky Thursday night was completely safe. It’s something other areas of the country refer to as “rain.”

While it was far from a deluge, Thursday night’s rainfall — and the rainfall in Roosevelt County that preceded it over the past few days — was a welcome sight. Clovis had seen .42 inches of rain for all of 2011 prior to this week, and Portales was at .08 inches for the same period.

As of 10:30 p.m. Thursday, .68 inches of rain fell on Clovis and .96 inches in Portales, according to KVII-TV Meteorologist Shelly Sites.

Amanda Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Portales received .36 inches of rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

Prior to this week, Clovis last received more than trace amounts of rain on April 7, while it was May 11 for Portales. In both cases, Martin said, precipitation was .03 inches.

There is a 30 percent chance of precipitation today, dropping to 10 percent Saturday and Sunday before returning to the more recent pattern of 0 percent for the following week.