September was the wettest month in Duluth since May 2006 and the first month of above-normal precipitation in the past four, bringing hope the region's 16-month drought may be about over.
The National Weather Service in Duluth reported roughly 4.38 inches of rain in September as of mid-afternoon Sunday.
While it has seemed almost sodden in recent days, the monthly total was only about a quarter-inch above normal.
Officially, according to the National Drought Monitor, much of the Northland remains abnormally dry or in moderate drought because of the long-term rainfall deficit. Duluth's deficit still is near a foot since June 2006.
Still, many of the long-term effects of drought have been mitigated by recent heavy rain.
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September rain has helped refill lakes and streams and even raised the level of Lake Superior a blip at the end of the month, although the lake still set an all-time low for September -- the second straight monthly low record.
It remains unclear if Lake Superior will set a record low sometime in March or April, with the outcome to be determined by winter snowfall totals.
The rain may have come just in time for many trees in the Northland stressed by a parched June-July-August growing season that saw rainfall 7.73 inches below normal in Duluth. Even as leaves fall, trees can continue to take in water though roots until winter.
"It's good for our soils before the ground freezes,'' said Steve Gohde, National Weather Service observation program leader.
The September rain ended fire bans and squashed fire danger across the region after tinder-dry conditions in August. Several areas north of the Iron Range received more than foot of rain in September, sending some streams, such as the Rice River south of Cook, over their banks in a few places last week.
International Falls reported nearly five inches of rain for the month, two inches above normal and leaving the year-to-date total right at normal.
There's another good chance of rain Tuesday afternoon and evening.
