Despite recent hot, dry weather, Western Pa. on pace for average rainfall

It may seem like Western Pennsylvania is experiencing extremely hot and dry weather conditions, but that’s largely because we have become used to higher-than-normal rainfalls.

So far this year, the region is right on track for precipitation, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.

“Since Jan. 1, we have had 22.8 inches of precipitation,” said NWS meteorologist Shannon Hefferan, noting that is slightly ahead of the normal amount of 22.16 inches by this point in the year.

In a typical year, the Pittsburgh region gets 38 inches of rain.

It only seems there has been less this year because of the abnormally high amounts of rain for the past two years, she explained.

The Pittsburgh region in 2018 saw record precipitation — 57.83 inches.

Last year again was one of the wettest on record for the region, with 52.46 inches of rain falling in 2019. Though it fell just short of the record, it was still around 14 inches more than normal.

And by this time in 2019, the region had seen nearly 32 inches of rain, which is “very wet,” Hefferan said.

But that’s little consolation to farmers, who have watched crops wither in the heat.

“Everything was burning up” because of the dry weather, said Joel Milowicki, manager of JP’s Farmers Market, a produce farm in Hunker.

Milowicki said he was in the fields with a liquid tanker for a number of days hand-watering his crops and he knows friends whose corn crops were completely ruined by the recent hot spell.

The tides turned when rain finally fell this week. Thursday morning saw more rain, with additional scattered storms expected Thursday afternoon and evening.

Storms are developing this morning across central to northwest OH and along the shores of Lake Erie. These will slowly progress east southeast through this afternoon, potentially becoming more widespread in coverage. Track the storms here: https://t.co/bx38TLx2BH

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 23, 2020

According to Hefferan, there shouldn’t be more than a half-inch of precipitation from now until the end of this weekend. More rain is expected Monday and Tuesday, according to NWS forecasts.

Hefferan believes the recent dryness was because the rain was not spread out, instead coming in short bursts on certain days. Before Thursday, total rainfall for the month was less than 2 inches.

Here is the latest drought monitor from @DroughtCenter for our region, showing 7% of the area in a moderate drought. The last time this much of the region was in a moderate drought was 9/6/2016, and the last time this much of the region was abnormally dry was 8/28/12. pic.twitter.com/huB3v2jHOs

— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 23, 2020

Temperatures reached 90 degrees or hotter for eight consecutive days from July 3-10 and again for three days this week, while rain — even a trace — was recorded on nine days this month.

“Everybody forgets about how bad it was being dry as soon as it rains,” Milowicki said. “I’m thankful for the rain that we finally got. I think it will straighten out and save our season at JP’s Farmers Market.”