Storm hits island with more than two inches of rain

Bainbridge Island was one of the Puget Sound areas hit hardest by the rainstorm that swept into the region Saturday evening and didn't subside for about 20 hours.

The island received 2.65 inches of rain over a 48-hour period between 8 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Monday morning, with 2.15 inches falling during a 24-hour period beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The measurements were recorded by Vince Mattson, a Green Spot Lane resident on the south shore of Murden Cove. Mattson, who has been officially gauging rainfall at his home since 1994, said it might have been one of the wettest 24-hour periods on the island in years.

The island rainfall was even more than what was recorded at Sea-Tac and Bremerton, which had 2.05 inches for 24 hours ending at 6 p.m. Sunday.

"Usually we have about two-thirds of the amount they get in Bremerton," Mattson said, "but I think we had more rain than anyone this time."

According to Mattson's rain gauge, 23.39 inches has fallen on the island during the last four and one-half months, including 3.59 inches during the first 15 days of May and a 9.21-inch total for March.

It's been a wet winter, he said, with 10.88 inches of rain falling in December. In 2010, a total of 50.57 inches were recorded, which is nearly 10 inches more than the annual average of 41 inches over the last 16 years.

Mattson said the most monthly rainfall recorded since 1994 occurred in November 2006, when 14.16 inches fell on the island.

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