Before this month’s storm surge, local crops were suffering from the lack of rain.

NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said, however, as excessive as the recent rainfall may seem, it actually has been much needed.

Earlier this year, and up until this month, the area had a rain deficit, lacking 5 inches of rainfall overall, Sebenste said.

“[We are] heading in the right direction,” he said.

As of Thursday, DeKalb County had received 2.79 inches of rainfall in July, compared to the average of 4.10 inches.

Sebenste said the 3 to 4 inches of rain we’ve received every week this month helped make up for the mild drought that was occurring in the county.

This year was bad to start out, but the watertables are now roaming back to normal, he said. Another 3 to 4 inches would be good for the area, he said.

Mark Yaeger, a local farmer and produce vendor, said crops had lacked subsoil moisture because of the mild drought.

The rain this month, he said, was much needed to control grubs, which are insects in the soil.

If we continue at this pace, he added, we can expect above-normal corn and bean yields.

According to www.weather.com, there are chances for thunderstorms this weekend.