Rainy relief?

Despite some rainy days, the region was still in a moderate drought, according to the U.S. drought monitor map released Thursday, June 15. However, the cutoff date for the date for the graphic was Tuesday, June 13. So the map did not include the rainfall that the region received after that. 

The National Weather Service Office in Pittsburgh noted this change in the numbers with a Facebook post. 

​"The last Drought Outlook was valid as of Tuesday (but released on Thursday, 6/15).

What's happened since then?

​Rain! ... most locations seeing one to two inches, while locations stretching from eastern Ohio through southwestern Pennsylvania seeing up to 3.5 inches," the post said. 
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Locally in Franklin, measurable rainfall was recorded from June 12 through June 17.  Rain amount for those days were .48, .20. 52, .18, .14 and .33 inches, respectively. The total so far this month is 1.85 inches. 

Nonetheless, a precipitation accumulation graph for Jan. 1 through June 17, 2023, generated by weather.gov showed the area was a little below where we should be for now. The normal was around 18.03 inches and the region was currently at 15.01 inches. 

The lowest accumulation for that time period was 8.94 inches in 1934, the start of the Dust Bowl years. 
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Meanwhile, the region's rivers appeared to show some recovery in terms of levels.  

The Allegheny River level at Franklin was reported at 3.39 feet on June 17 and fell to 3.1 feet on June 18 where it was forecasted to level off. 

The United States Geological Survey's records for area waterways showed some improvement as well. 
French Creek at Utica was reported at normal levels for this time of year. Oil Creek at Rouseville and the Allegheny at West Hickory and Franklin were upgraded to just below normal rather than much below normal.  

While there was a chance of rain forecasted for Tuesday, a drought watch was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection on June 15.
"While not required, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily conserve water by reducing their nonessential water use ... No county is in drought warning or emergency status at this time," the DEP said in the news release. 

Nonetheless, the DEP offered some tips on how to conserve water during these dry times.

 "Residents and businesses are encouraged to reduce their nonessential water use by 5–10 percent.

For example, at home there are many simple ways to use less water:  

• Run the dishwasher and washing machine less often, and only with full loads.
• Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Take shorter showers. For example, consider not washing your hair daily. 
• Water your lawn only if necessary. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Watering grass lightly and efficiently will encourage healthier, deeper grass roots. Overwatering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought.
• When mowing your lawn, set the blades two to three inches high. Longer grass shades the soil, improving moisture retention. 
• Water your garden less often. If necessary, water only in the cooler evening or morning hours, and direct the water to the ground at the base of the plant. Focus on new plantings, which have shallow root systems. Older plants may endure dry conditions longer.
• Skip the car washing. If you have to wash your car, it's better environmentally to go to a drive-through car wash that recycles the water.
• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway, instead of hosing it off.
• Check for and repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily. 
• Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall. 

For helpful information, see this Penn State Extension guide. Or just set out a bucket to capture water in the event of rain,and reuse it to water plants or the bird bath."

​The release also mentioned the threat of fires during the dry times.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources urged Pennsylvanians to be aware of increased fire risk.
​
 "Low precipitation has dramatically increased the number of wildfires in Pennsylvania this year. There have already been 1,400 wildfires reported statewide so far in 2023, compared to 1,036 in all of 2022. This year’s wildfires have burned more than 8,500 acres, compared to 2,700 acres in 2022," the release stated. 

Meanwhile, the neighbor's pond has been a hotspot for deer lately as the vernal pools and spring springs have been drying up. 

Will the region continue to dry out or recover from drought conditions? Only Mother Nature knows for sure. 
The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center's eight to 14-day outlook for June 25 through July 1 called for slightly above normal precipitation. However, Mother Nature tends to not always follow the forecasts.

​That's just the nature of things 'round here.