By Staff
from staff reports
On June 4, 1970, the Wallace community had 9.5 inches of rain in a single day — and Essie Chavers was there to record it, as she has done for the past 50 years.
Chavers, a lifelong Wallace resident, was presented the National Weather Service Edward H. Stoll Award at her home near Wallace on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The Edward H. Stoll Award honors Chavers for her 50 years of service as a National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer.
The rainfall data that Mrs. Chavers has consistently supplied to the National Weather Service over the past half century has given the service a greater understanding of the precipitation climate of the Wallace area. The data has been of great value in forecasting flood potential on the Burnt Corn and Murder Creeks near Brewton, which are subject to flash flooding, and in a broader spectrum, this data has also played a part in assessing the potential for drought conditions over southern Alabama in general. The climatological record created from her dutiful observations will benefit researchers and decision makers for generations to come.
During her tenure as the Wallace area weather observer, Chavers has been witness to, and reported on many significant rainfall events, including large rainfall amounts during hurricanes Opal, Georges and Ivan.
Chavers has been a lifelong resident of the Wallace area; her present home is only 600 feet from the house where she was born.
Not only has she provided data to the National Weather Service, but she has also done so for local area residents with an interest in knowing the local rainfall amounts.
Effective Aug. 1, Chavers’ daughter, Kathryn Conrad, has officially assumed the duty as the National Weather Service Cooperative Weather Observer for Wallace, continuing to add to the wealth of data provided by this dedicated family.