Saturday's rain was welcome relief to the extreme drought in the Central Savannah River Area.

After numerous days of record highs last week, Saturday brought record rainfall to Augusta Regional Airport, where 2.58" of rain fell. That total shattered the old record rainfall for the date of 1.61" in 1981.

So far for the month of December, the airport, Augusta's official weather reporting station, received 2.63" of rain.

Augusta's Daniel Field Airport reported 2.16" of rain Saturday. And, in Evans, 2.15" accumulated.

Even heavier amounts of rain fell in areas of Jenkins, Burke, Allendale, and Emanuel counties, according to Doppler radar estimates. Four to five inches was common in those areas.

The 30-year average December rainfall for Augusta is 3.14". Saturday's rain will prevent 2007 from being the driest year on record in Augusta. That record was in danger of being set before the beneficial rains came.