Region again flirts with rain record

With umbrellas popping open across the city this morning and a wet weekend in the forecast, for the second month in a row the region is flirting with a record for consecutive days of measurable rainfall.

This marks the eighth straight day that rain has been measured officially at Philadelphia International Airport, and that's four days shy of matching the 12-day record set in 1889.

"The trough over the eastern U.S. has kept us cloudy and cool," said National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Robertson in Mount Holly.

All the rain has caused motor vehicle accidents throughout the region and is giving agita to the owners of car washes and other businesses dependant on good weather.

Christopher Toriello, the owner of Executive Auto Salon in Center City, said his business has been cut in half.

"What we've done with any detail over $300," he said, "is give a free wash if it rains" a day after the job is done.

The body shop has been strong, however, due to increased accidents in the rain, Toriello said.

"But our detailers aren't body men," he said. "There are days when nobody comes in (for detailing). At the same time, we can't handle all the work here (at the body shop)."

The Philadelphia Zoo has seen average attendance despite the rain, said Bill Larson, director of communications.

"Every exhibit is open," he said. "The balloon may not be based on visibility and wind, but that's constant throughout the year."

Larson said many animals also brave the rain, but have the option of shelter.

"We grant them access to their exhibit, but leave their door open to the night quarters," he said. "If they want to get out of the rain, they can."

The 12-day record almost was threatened just last month, when rain fell on nine consecutive days from April 28 through May 7.

The forecast calls for a chance of showers at least through Sunday, and if you've been paying attention you probably noticed that the forecast in the morning is different from what you heard from when you went to bed. That's just the nature of June weather.

For the sake of the climate record, what matters is what happens at the official measuring station, located in an airport meadow.

"It could rain in Conshohocken," Robertson said. "But if it doesn't rain at the airport (where rainfall is recorded), it's not official."

It doesn't' take much rain for it to count – just 0.01 inches; a "trace" isn't considered measureable.

Of course, at this point most people probably don't care about technicalities.

Too much is enough.