Nice weather to continue as summer wanes
After a rainy start, summer has settled into a more pleasant pattern with lots of sunny warm days and mostly comfortable nights. The rains have been more scattered, with some areas getting drenched while others just a gentle shower. The day Uniontown received over 4 inches of rain in a few hours, we measured just a half inch here at our weather station at Chalk Hill.
A few days ago, we had 1.54 inches with hail up to the size of quarters, while many other areas received no rainfall. So is the nature of summertime scattered thunderstorms.
Looking ahead, the longer range forecasts do not seem to be predicting any strong heat waves for the balance of August. There will be some warm days, but the intense heat and humidity seems to be staying away, after a brief visit last month. The 93 degree temperature on July 21 was the last 90-plus degree reading.
August can be on the hot side, but average temperatures begin to slide downward after July 22, when we experience our warmest average temperature of 86 degrees. By the end of August, our average temperature drops to 82 dgrees for the high and 59 for the overnight low. The hottest August day was on August 4, 1930, when Uniontown reached 102 degrees, and the coldest morning was 34 degrees on August 29, 1982.
A few mornings ago, while having my morning tea on our back deck, I noticed a few of our leaves begin to flutter to the ground. Later that day, while on the bike trail in Ohiopyle, I also noticed a number of leaves that had fallen to the ground and also the colors of the woods and forest are beginning to take on a different appearance from the deep green of early summer to a hue with a more tan shade to it. I even saw a few maple trees with some red leaves visible. It just seems like summer gets here and already a few signs it will be on its way out before too long. Sunrise and sunset on August 1 are 6:18 a.m. and 8:32 p.m. respectfully, and by month鈥檚 end, sunrise is at 6:46 a.m. and sunset at 7:51 p.m.
One of the things I enjoy about this time of the year is the rhythm of the nighttime sounds. A few nights ago the katydids began practicing for their nightly concert. The crickets are also beginning to chirp and the combination makes for great sleeping, especially when you leave a window or two open.
In the spring there was a lot of discussion about the return of the cicadas that only pay a visit every 17 years. Numerous articles foretold of their coming, however, it looks like their visit is being confined to areas mostly north of Pittsburgh and over in Ohio. Cicadas do their singing in the daytime and the crickets and katydids like to perform for us during the nighttime hours. Katydids are masters of disguise and know how to sing quite a tune.
Enjoy the concert and the nice weather.