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 | 缅北禁地
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鈥檚 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not typical for it to be this dry, so in another couple of weeks, we鈥檒l probably see the pattern change,鈥� meteorologist Michael Brown said. 鈥淭o be 19th driest is pretty significant. Maybe not extreme, but it鈥檚 definitely unusual in that sense.鈥�
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鈥檛 any serious issues being created from the drier weather 鈥� besides for maybe some thirsty yards 鈥� 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 鈥減lenty of water鈥� in the region鈥檚 reservoirs right now.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 not a problem at the moment. We鈥檙e not there yet, but it could be if it stays dry for a couple of more weeks,鈥� 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鈥檛 be oppressively hot, although Brown still suggested that people hydrate and take other precautions if working outdoors.
鈥淲hen it鈥檚 dry for a while, we will tend to get lower humidity air,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will still be hot and sunny, too. Even with the (low) heat index, it will be hot.鈥�
But even with the lack of rainfall last month, Brown said the region isn鈥檛 in danger of drought or wildfires.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty hard to get a wildfire when everything is green because trees still retain a lot of moisture,鈥� he said. 鈥淒rought usually takes a couple of months for really dry weather to become 鈥榙rought-stressed.'鈥�
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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to have this much dry weather in Pittsburgh, so I鈥檇 definitely take advantage of it,鈥� Brown said.