Rainfall totaled 2.78 this week, well above the normal of 1.1 for a seven-day period in mid-August. Drenching thunderstorms delivered 2.39 of it, almost all within 45 minutes, Friday afternoon. Ground returned to favorably moist Saturday as standing water drained or evaporated. However, numerous ponds of water persist over parts of central and northern Berks County where over 3 inches of rain fell Friday. Right here, the 24-month precipitation deficiency has dropped from nearly 20 inches early this year to only a few inches, and shorter-term running totals are now in excess. Thus, this week's heavy rain should have brought long-term drought to an end. The earlier severe to extreme drought ended with very numerous moderate to heavy rains and one snowstorm over several months while eluding extreme rainfalls or major flooding. Eastern and far southern Berks County continue to miss the really heavy rains, and moderate drought persists there.