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Albert Lea will end the year with above average precipitation and having received about 18 inches more precipitation than in 2023.

According to totals from Albert Lea’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, the city received 40.46 inches of precipitation in 2024, compared to the 25-year average precipitation amount of 35.07 inches.

Brandon Huston, superintendent of the treatment plant, said most of the increase was because of the 11.99 inches of rain received in June, which was the highest amount of precipitation of any month in 25 years.

The heavy rains led to flooding and closures of roads, including Main Street, for as long as two weeks.

Huston said January and February started 2024 below average for precipitation. Then March, April, May and June were all above average, as was August and November.

The last year the city had over 40 inches of precipitation was in 2018 when the city received 43.42 inches. The year with the highest precipitation in the last 25 years was in 2016 when the city received 48.36 inches, while the lowest came in 2023 with 22.3 inches. The years 2020 through 2023 were all below average with 30 inches or less each year.

The month with the highest average precipitation over the last 25 years has been June, with an average of 5.46 inches, followed by May at 4.8 inches and July with 4.32 inches. The month with the lowest average precipitation is in January.