Central PA Spring 2026 Discussion/Obs Thread

[Mount Joy Snowman]

Low of 49. Nice one today. My wife wanted me to turn on the heat the last two mornings. I’ve never scoffed at her so hard ha. 

[mahantango#1]

This seems a little off as  in my local where I picked up .88 of rain on Wednesday evening. The colors on the map show I only got .25-.50

US National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center  ·

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The latest drought monitor was released this morning and it's not good news for the areas already in drought. Although the extent has not changed, the severity of the existing drought increased. Over the past 24 hours, up to an inch of rain fell, but the heaviest amounts were mostly in areas unaffected by drought. The next 72 hours will not bring any relief as less than 0.25 inches, and increasing temperatures, are expected

 

[Jns2183]

another week we had a good amount of rain but still this map hasnt changed
 
 

Haha, it might be because people are still below the 40th percentile for ytd rainfall. Honestly unless we get area wide coverage of 25" from now till end of August I'd expect this map will be there the entire summer. Add in the fact that many have not had an above normal season in 3-4 years I'd be more worried if the map showed nothing.

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[Superstorm]

1 minute ago, Jns2183 said:

Haha, it might be because people are still below the 40th percentile for ytd rainfall. Honestly unless we get area wide coverage of 25" from now till end of August I'd expect this map will be there the entire summer. Add in the fact that many have not had an above normal season in 3-4 years I'd be more worried if the map showed nothing.

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Depending on thunderstorms in the summer to make up the drought is a crap shoot.  I fear this gets much worse.

[pasnownut]

22 hours ago, mahantango#1 said:

Yea I was talking about field corn and soybean planting. As far as planting my garden. I planted my potatoes about 2 weeks ago. There not up yet. Just planted stringbeans and peas e days ago. I should have some sweet corn planted by now, but that ground is too cold yet. And now just had .88 rain last night. And my garden is in the bottom land next to a creek. Last night during the thunderstorm my garden was basically underwater. If it would be a sunny day today and temps in the 70's I could get in the garden later today. But with a completely overcast sky and cool temps that won't be the case today. Hopefully it warms up soon and stays.

good luck w/ the crops.  Sounds like later is better for your garden.  Happy planting.  We gave up on our garden a couple years ago.  I/we miss the "fruits of the labor, but it was my wifes hobby, and i was just the weed guy.  I hate pullin weeds....lol.  She just does small batch stuff in some of our larger beds.  Jalapenos going in very soon she says.  Her pepper jam is a crowd pleaser, just like her horseradish used to be.  

Have a good weekend all.

 

[ChescoWx]

16 of our last 20 days have featured below average temperatures. Today will be another below average day before we start a strong warmup with temperatures by Tuesday approaching 90 degrees across especially the valley locations across the County. A cold front will cross the area later Wednesday with a chance of some showers. Following that front we should see temperatures fall back closer to normal levels by the end of next week.

[WmsptWx]

Dear Christ I hope that was the end of the gloomy weather. Seeing the clear sky this morning when waking up lifted my spirits, but also made signing into work difficult.

[TheDreamTraveler]

Main thing that sucks about it hitting 95 for 2 days straight this early is the pool water is nowhere near warm enough to even take a dip in lmao especially with how cold its been it hasn't had much time to heat up

[WmsptWx]

2 hours ago, TheDreamTraveler said:

Main thing that sucks about it hitting 95 for 2 days straight this early is the pool water is nowhere near warm enough to even take a dip in lmao especially with how cold its been it hasn't had much time to heat up

Holy fucking Christ, you people are exhausting. It's May 15th. I've always considered swimming in May a bonus. It's been 50 degrees for the last month, that pattern seems to be breaking (and it's going to be in the low 60s next weekend so it's not even going to be extended warmth) and here we are. Bitching about the pool water. 

I may need to take a break.

[TheDreamTraveler]

Just now, WmsptWx said:

Holy fucking Christ, you people are exhausting. It's May 15th. I've always considered swimming in May a bonus. It's been 50 degrees for the last month, that pattern seems to be breaking (and it's going to be in the low 60s next weekend so it's not even going to be extended warmth) and here we are. Bitching about the pool water. 

I may need to take a break.

I'm not really bitching about it I guess just having something to chat about that's relatable lmao I don't even really get in the water much at all. My main thing for even saying it is the fact those 2 days will probably be 2 of the hottest days of the entire summer and it happens this early instead of later which is stupid imo. Like if I ever do get in the pool it's only on really hot days like that but I get there's going to be a shit ton of days to get in it lol

[pawatch]

2 hours ago, TheDreamTraveler said:

Main thing that sucks about it hitting 95 for 2 days straight this early is the pool water is nowhere near warm enough to even take a dip in lmao especially with how cold its been it hasn't had much time to heat up

Not so sure we will see 90’s on Tuesday north of I-80.

[canderson]

Nasty day here in Vancouver. Fairly heavy rain, 52 degrees and 30-40 mph winds. 

[mahantango#1]

27 minutes ago, canderson said:

Nasty day here in Vancouver. Fairly heavy rain, 52 degrees and 30-40 mph winds. 

Does it remind you of the weather that you left a few days ago?

[Voyager]

3 hours ago, WmsptWx said:

Holy fucking Christ, you people are exhausting. It's May 15th. I've always considered swimming in May a bonus. It's been 50 degrees for the last month, that pattern seems to be breaking (and it's going to be in the low 60s next weekend so it's not even going to be extended warmth) and here we are. Bitching about the pool water. 

I may need to take a break.

The bolded part is what makes me bitch and moan. I'm tired of the wild 30 degree temperature swings. From here on out, I'd like to see the cooler periods hold in the 70's, not drop back into the 50's (like yesterday) and 60's.

[Ruin]

Yep its way off it hasnt really been updated in like 2 months at least. I got close to 1.00 of rain in the last week that would put us even for the year.

[Ruin]

15 hours ago, Jns2183 said:

Haha, it might be because people are still below the 40th percentile for ytd rainfall. Honestly unless we get area wide coverage of 25" from now till end of August I'd expect this map will be there the entire summer. Add in the fact that many have not had an above normal season in 3-4 years I'd be more worried if the map showed nothing.

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we had above precip the last few months and this map hasnt changed. winter was a tad dry but I feel like they just keep releasing the same map cause they dont want to make a new one cause not many people even care about it. no way we are even close to any of this drought color. 

[Voyager]

I said it a couple weeks ago, and here it is. I truly believe we're going to have a roller coaster summer of heat for a few days, then a period of much below temps, then warm up, then go 'cold" again...

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

[mahantango#1]

Yesterday the afternoon was really nice to be out. My high was 73

[pawatch]

42 degrees again this morning.

Probably grass mow # 9 today.

[Voyager]

1 hour ago, mahantango#1 said:

Yesterday the afternoon was really nice to be out. My high was 73

I got stuck doing Hazleton loads yesterday. That godforsaken place has a whole different climate from even Tamaqua. Save for a brief period of sunshine, it was mostly overcast and windy up there, and I had to wear my hoodie almost all day. I checked the local stations and it didn't get above 60 the whole time I was up there.

The Hazleton climate is the main reason why I hate delivering to that customer.

 

[mahantango#1]

1 hour ago, Voyager said:

I got stuck doing Hazleton loads yesterday. That godforsaken place has a whole different climate from even Tamaqua. Save for a brief period of sunshine, it was mostly overcast and windy up there, and I had to wear my hoodie almost all day. I checked the local stations and it didn't get above 60 the whole time I was up there.

The Hazleton climate is the main reason why I hate delivering to that customer.

 

Sounds like Hazelton will give you depression. I was up to Hazelton a few times to attend a class, seminar (for my employer) at The Top of the 80's about 10 years ago. Yes it's a different world up ther.

[Blizzard of 93]

15 hours ago, canderson said:

Nasty day here in Vancouver. Fairly heavy rain, 52 degrees and 30-40 mph winds. 

Poor guy, you can’t escape the wind even up in Canada, lol.

Hope you are having a great trip! Please share some pictures of your adventure.