Parts of New Jersey that needed rain got a decent amount during the Memorial Day weekend, but a large seasonal rainfall deficit persists.
The heavy downpours and scattered thunderstorms that canceled parades and family gatherings during the Memorial Day weekend helped South Jersey finish the spring season with above-normal precipitation, but wasn't enough to erase the large rainfall deficits in northern and central New Jersey.
According to rainfall data from the National Weather Service, the Newark region has received only 6.35 inches of precipitation during the meteorological spring season -- March, April and May -- compared to the normal amount of 12.47 inches.
The Trenton region has received just 6.84 inches instead of its normal amount of 12.05 inches, data shows. The Atlantic City region has gotten a healthy 12.71 inches of precipitation this season, which is 1.52 inches above normal.
Dry conditions to stick around for awhile
Which places in the Garden State got the biggest soaking on Memorial Day weekend?
That distinction belongs to towns in Mercer, Middlesex, Camden and Burlington counties, according to reports from the National Weather Service, the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, and the New Jersey Weather & Climate Network at Rutgers University.
About 4.5 inches of rain saturated Hamilton Township in Mercer, and 4.2 inches of rain soaked the township of Cranbury in southern Middlesex. Both East Windsor and Robbinsville in Mercer picked up 3.9 inches of rain.
In Burlington County, the municipalities of Burlington and Westampton each received 3.5 inches of rain, Mount Holly had 3 inches and Mount Laurel had 2.75 inches. In Camden County, the weather service received a report of 3.4 inches of rain in Haddon Township.
Other towns across the state that received 3 inches of rain included Helmetta in Middlesex and Merchantville in Camden.
Newark picked up 1.6 inches of rain on Monday, which is a lot of rain for one day but didn't make a dent in its seasonal rainfall shortage. Atlantic City picked up 1.8 inches of rain on Memorial Day.
The moisture in New Jersey during the holiday weekend originated from the outer edges of Tropical Depression Bonnie, which dumped as much as 10 inches of rain on parts of South Carolina on Sunday and Monday, and 7 to 8 inches on parts of North Carolina and Georgia, The Weather Channel reported.
Although the rain and dark skies spoiled a lot of Memorial Day celebrations, for many parts of New Jersey it was only the third washout in 17 years on the day of the observed holiday.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.