Western Pennsylvania experiences 19th driest May on record
Aislinn Stephen, 3, of Smock, takes a big swing at the playground at Eberly Park in North Union Township on Wednesday. She is the daughter of Lauren Sparks and Zach Stephen. (Photo by Mark Hofmann)
Mark Hofmann | 无毛视频-Standard
Aislinn Stephen, 3, of Smock, the daughter of Lauren Sparks and Zach Stephen, takes a big swing at the playground at Eberly Park in North Union Township on Wednesday.
Last month无毛视频檚 weather brought sunny skies, warm temperatures and low humidity. It also brought one of the driest months of May on record in the Pittsburgh region.
With just 1.73 inches of rain recorded last month, it was the 19th driest May in the 153 years of record-keeping, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 not typical for it to be this dry, so in another couple of weeks, we无毛视频檒l probably see the pattern change,无毛视频� meteorologist Michael Brown said. 无毛视频淭o be 19th driest is pretty significant. Maybe not extreme, but it无毛视频檚 definitely unusual in that sense.无毛视频�
The last time the area saw so little rain in May was in 1986 when 1.67 inches of rainfall was recorded, according to the weather service.
There aren无毛视频檛 any serious issues being created from the drier weather 无毛视频� besides for maybe some thirsty yards 无毛视频� but it will likely continue for several more days before any rainfall is expected. Brown said while the rivers are running lower than usual, there is still 无毛视频減lenty of water无毛视频� in the region无毛视频檚 reservoirs right now.
无毛视频淪o it无毛视频檚 not a problem at the moment. We无毛视频檙e not there yet, but it could be if it stays dry for a couple of more weeks,无毛视频� Brown said.
In addition to the dry conditions that are expected to persist, Friday has a chance to hit 90 degrees for the first time this year, Brown said. The humidity will remain low, so it won无毛视频檛 be oppressively hot, although Brown still suggested that people hydrate and take other precautions if working outdoors.
无毛视频淲hen it无毛视频檚 dry for a while, we will tend to get lower humidity air,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚t will still be hot and sunny, too. Even with the (low) heat index, it will be hot.无毛视频�
But even with the lack of rainfall last month, Brown said the region isn无毛视频檛 in danger of drought or wildfires.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 pretty hard to get a wildfire when everything is green because trees still retain a lot of moisture,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淒rought usually takes a couple of months for really dry weather to become 无毛视频榙rought-stressed.'无毛视频�
There is a slight chance for rain Monday, but the weekend should be clear for outdoor chores or day trip adventures. As many long-time Western Pennsylvania residents know, a stretch this long without cloudy skies and rain is something to celebrate.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 rare to have this much dry weather in Pittsburgh, so I无毛视频檇 definitely take advantage of it,无毛视频� Brown said.