Summer right around the corner
With the warm weather, thundershowers and a bit of humidity this past week, it鈥檚 not too early to take a peek at the coming summer months.
The danger of frost and freeze are probably over and many folks have started their summer planting, although I have seen temperatures of 32 degrees and frost as late as June 3 in the mountains, but lower elevations are generally safe after the May 20.
The heat has already started in the Southeast where temperatures over the holiday weekend topped 100 degrees in Charleston, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, and both of these cities are on the water. Savannah, Georgia had its hottest May ever day with 102 degrees last week. It was also 101 degrees in Macon and Augusta, Georgia. This is pretty early for this type of heat and more typical of late July or early August.
Back home, it has been a lush spring with ample rainfall and no real cold snaps to ruin the spring blooms that have been so exceptional this season. The parade of blooms and color marched on and now the tree canopy has an exceptionally beautiful color. Unfortunately this past week, while on the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail just outside of Ohiopyle, we did hear the first call of the cicada that are ready to emerge from their long sleep and begin chewing at that canopy.
Average temperatures for our area in June, July and August are 80 degrees for the high and 60 for the overnight low. The first 80 average high occurs on June 6 and the last 80 degree day is on September 10. The peak average temperature occurs on July 18 when the average is 86 degrees and from then on it declines until late January. We all know of course that on any given summer day it can reach 90 degrees or better and once every 10 years, we do see a temperature of 100 degrees. Our hottest day in the Uniontown area was 102 degrees on July 2 1988, the day my grand-daughter, Ashli, was born. 1988 was a very hot year with 38 days above 90 degrees. We usually average just 9 days a season of 90-degree-plus weather.
Those are the averages and the extremes. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting our next three months to be just slightly above normal in both temperature and rainfall. More than likely, we are not in store for anything like the summer of 1988; however, like all summers we will have our share of heat and humidity and the real joy of living in Southwestern Pennsylvania is that just about the time any heat and humidity want to overstay their welcome a refreshing cool front with cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels come down from Canada and chases away the heat and humidity. June 1st is also the beginning of the hurricane season and when planning a vacation to the ocean one should keep this in mind. Have a great summer.