As much as five inches of rain had fallen from slow-moving thunderstorms that day. Roads were underwater and people were being evacuated from their homes, he stated.

Then, to my disbelief, Kammerer added, "But we still have a five-inch rainfall deficit at Reagan National Airport!"

Who gives a durn about a rainfall deficit at the airport? There's nothing but concrete and asphalt at Reagan National Airport. All the water runs off the runways and down into the adjacent Potomac River.

The airport precipitation doesn't sink into the ground to help wells. And the last time I looked, they don't grow any crops at Reagan National! Who cares what the rainfall deficit is there?

Parts of Prince William, Fairfax and Loudoun counties were underwater. Storms are making creeks rise in Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. Spotsylvania County is being battered with torrents of rain.

Still, Kammerer had to make sure all his viewers knew there was a near drought at Reagan National Airport.

Jeez!

I've got news for all these weathermen. Some areas are going to get dry during the summer months. That's just the way it works. Thunderstorms are a hit-and-miss proposition. Everyone doesn't get them.

The grass on hillside pastures in the Shenandoah Valley will turn brown in late July. That should be no big shock. It happens almost every year.

And only when we finish out the year will we know whether precipitation has met the annual average.

Oh! One more thing. It always gets hot in the summer. Despite the TV weathermen dramatics, let me point out that we have hit 95--even 100--degrees many times in the past and mankind has survived.

Hey, guys! Be a Chuck Bell (also on WRC-TV). Just give us the weather. No dramatics, no doomsday scenarios.

You want to do high drama? Get a job on a soap opera.

Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com