Monday’s rain - a little more than 2 1/2 inches by midafternoon - will ensure the crops in the fields will continue to grow and local farmers are thrilled about that.

Ed Coufal, who grows corn and wheat on several hundred acres between Temple and Zabcikville, said the recent precipitation is very beneficial.

Monday morning, Coufal said the rain was coming down pretty good as he headed east toward Temple

“If we could get a couple of inches that would be great,” he said.

The Monday rain had been forecast for more than a week, with the likelihood increasing over the weekend.

Mike Griffin, a meteorologist with KCEN-TV, said Monday’s rain was a soaker brought about by a stalled front sitting on top of the area. He predicted 1 to 3 inches of rain.

“This band of showers should work their way out of the area tonight,” he said Monday.

The area should get a reprieve from the rain today with the chance of severe weather moving into the area on Wednesday, Griffin said.

Wednesday’s storms will be the result of upper level energy from the west, he said.

“By the weekend it will be hot and humid,” Griffin said.

To date Temple has received about 10.5 inches of rain. Normal for the year is 10.68 inches. Last year by this date Temple had received 18.39 inches of rain.