There are eight cities and towns called Evergreen in the good ole USA that we get hourly reports from.
But, naturally, my favorite is Evergreen, Alabama. A neat little city nestled in the very heart of Conecuh County on Interstate 65 about mid-way between Montgomery and Mobile. The east-west U.S 84 also crossed through there.
A great place to live. Population about 4,000. And, an easy place to spell. Much easier than Thibodaux and Opelousas, Louisiana for example.
Something very unusual, weatherwise, happened in Evergreen in 1975.
It rained!
It rained and rained.
It rained even more.
It would not stop.
By the time 1975 was half gone (at the end of June) Evergreen had already received 58.40 inches of rain–more than the average amount for an entire year! This included 18.20 inches in April, alone.
By the end of 1975, the Evergreen total had swelled to an amazing 114.02 inches, the most ever recorded in Alabama in a calendar year! The previous state record was 106.57 in North Mobile County at Mt. Vernon Barracks way back in 1853.
During the two-day period February 16-17, 1975, as much as 11 inches of rain in 48 hours over South Central Alabama set off majot flash-flooding. Numerous roads were washed out, farm land was flooded and livestock lost. The Pea River at Elba crested seven feet over flood stage, the highest level since the record flood of 1929.
The story did not end there.
On April 9-10, another 14 to 17 inches of rain over parts of the same area, most if it within a few hours during the evening of April 9. Much, much flash-flood damage. Damage to agriculture alone rose well into the $Millions. One of the hardest hit areas that time was Brewton.
Still more to come. On July 31, 1975, the third big flood in South Central and SW Alabama with 7 to 15 additional inches. Major river flooding and extensive flash-flooding including the Mobile area.
A THREE-YEAR WET SPELL FOR EVERGREEN
During the three-year period 1973-1975, Evergreen received 273.98 inches of rain, averaging over 91 inches per year!. This included the record 114.02 in 1975. It accumulated like this:
81.84 inches in 1973
78.12 inches in 1974
114.02 inches in 1975
There were no dust storms.
No drought advisories.
FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR
(At Scrougeout, in NE Etowah County)
10.07 inches this October
70.07 inches so far this year
85.43 inches last 12 months
In NW Alabama, 11.95 inches in October just ended at Bear Creek with 62.10 inxches so far this year.
