As the Gulf Coast states are getting battered by heavy rains, courtesy of Hurricane Delta, other areas across the nation are experiencing sparse precipitation and growing drought concerns.
The drought worries cover most of Pennsylvania, including the northwestern corner of the state.
And, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, a shift toward a consistent and appreciable amount of rain in the area is not in the immediate forecast.
Venango County remains on the abnormally-dry status, the lowest of four levels in terms of drought severity.
Three other counties – Clinton, McKean and Potter – were in the drough- warning category.
An ongoing lack of appreciable rainfall is expected to switch around the drought categories, with more counties expected to be categorized as drought watch or warning.
Despite not having a hydrology-based designation of drought, there are stubborn local signs of abnormally dry conditions. They include nearly bone-dry small creeks and information that freshwater wells are being compromised by a very low water table.
In late September, National Weather Service hydrologist Alicia Miller in Pittsburgh said rainfall in northwestern Pennsylvania was checked at anywhere between 4 to 8 inches – depending on location – below normal.
Little rain is coming
That scenario is not due to change anytime soon, said a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh on Friday.
“Basically, over the past couple of weeks there hasn’t been much change except for a slight expansion of the moderate drought level up in your area,” said Jason Frazier. “The most notable change this week compared to last week was in southwestern Pennsylvania, where more areas were pushed back to the moderate drought level from the abnormally dry level.”
There’s not any big change coming as to precipitation over the next week. The forecast calls for slight chances of showers Sunday through midweek.
“We will continue to see dry weather, although there may be a slight shower developing late Saturday evening, but it will have little if any impact on drought,” said Frazier.
There are two possible shots at some rain in the area over the next few days, he said.
“The remnants of Delta will move up into the area on Sunday and Monday, and there is a chance we could knock it down a level on the drought watch. But, it won’t completely erase it,” said Frazier.
Next up is a cold front that is moving into northwestern Pennsylvania on Tuesday. That may spark a few light showers, he said.
“By the time we get through these two rounds of precipitation, we could see some improvement to get down to the abnormally dry range and out of the drought-watch range. That calls for concentrated rain, though,” said the meteorologist.
Eastern Pennsylvania counties are expected to draw more rain out of the tropical system this weekend than elsewhere in the state.
“It would be nice if you got that moisture, but we’ll get a little shot, maybe a half an inch from the hurricane and another half-inch with the cold front,” said Frazier. “We just have to wait and see.”
