Ike, like Gustav, to send rain to mid-Mo

COLUMBIA - Boone County is due for more heavy rainfall beginning Thursday night with heavy rain possible later in the weekend from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, adding to an already wet year that could break records.

"I believe we are still on pace to be one of the wettest years," said Melissa Byrd of the National Weather Service.

This week's round of rain is set to bring not only a higher volume than last week, but also a better chance of thunderstorms.

Less than a week after the remnants of Hurricane Gustav collided with a stalled front over eastern Missouri and western Illinois, an almost identical situation is coming out of Hurricane Ike, which is predicted to hit Texas' gulf coast Saturday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, up to 4 to 8 inches will fall on Boone County and mid-Missouri today and could remain in the area through Sunday.

The rain expected through Saturday is the result of a stationary front meeting with the tropical moisture ahead of Ike.

However, the heaviest rain is expected to come Sunday, when the remnants of Ike come up through Texas and Oklahoma and into Missouri and Illinois.

Last week's rainfall at Columbia Regional Airport totaled 3.51 inches, and MU reported receiving 3.15 inches of rain.

Jefferson City, 30 miles south on Highway 63, received 6.31 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain resulting from hurricane remnants is hardly an anomaly in the Midwest, but eastern Missouri counties are on their way to having the wettest year ever recorded.

Through Sept. 6, 2008 has been the third wettest year in Columbia since record-keeping began in 1892. Through Wednesday, Columbia Regional Airport had recorded 44.37 inches compared with 45.32 and 44.33 inches of precipitation that fell through Sept. 6 in 1993 and 1892, respectively, the two highest years of record.

With 4 to 8 inches expected by the end of the weekend, Columbia could surpass these figures. And with the possibility of more storms like Ike and Gustav before hurricane season ends, 2008 could become the wettest year recorded in Columbia, according to the National Weather Service.