A total of .69" fell this week, with at least .01" on 6 of the 7 days. This total is below the April weekly average of .84".  For April, a total of only 1.15" fell, which is 2.12" below average and the lowest monthly rainfall since September 2025.  The station is now 6.24" behind for the calendar year and 8.76" behind for the water year.  The rains this week have helped the grass grow, despite the lower than normal temperatures.  They did not produce any standing water in the yard or increase roadside ditch water levels.  Farmers have planted most of the fields in the vicinity that had not been planted yet.  However, there were still many unplanted fields in counties to the south and west. Deeper soil moistures are still very low.  There was a swarm of Royal terns feeding nearby in the Sound which is an unusual event as Royal terns are typically found only around saltwater bodies.  According to the Cornell Ornithology Lab, Royal terns only feed in freshwater on very rare occasions.  This may be further evidence of saltwater encroachment into the western Albemarle Sound.  Songbirds continue to use the bird bath for drinking and bathing.