Dry conditions expected to continue in Western Pennsylvania

Wildfire season in Pennsylvania typically runs from March to May, when the lack of tree canopy means more dry brush on the ground.

But with a forecast that contains barely any rain over the next 10 to 14 days, the dry season is getting an extension in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

And with the summer travel season ramping up, Ryan Reed, a resource program specialist with the state’s Division of Forestry, cautioned those heading to Pennsylvania’s wooded areas, particularly for lengthy hikes or camping.

“I live in Lebanon County, and when I look around, it’s as dry and brown as what I’d normally expect in late July or early August,” Reed said. “It’s the driest I can remember for early June, and I’m 49 years old.”

According to National Weather Service data, the Pittsburgh region has received 12.4 inches of precipitation in the first five months of 2023. That is the lowest total in the past four years during that time frame.

That total isn’t likely to increase soon, according to NWS meteorologist Colton Milcarek.

“Over the next week, we’re going to maintain pretty persistent dry conditions,” Milcarek said. “The chance of rain increases a little bit as a front passes on Sunday, but then we’re going to return to those dry conditions.”

Rainfall by June in the past four years was 19.66 in 2022, 14.73 in 2021 and 18.6 in 2020.

“We had a very active spring fire season, with about 8,000 acres burned,” Reed said. “That’s an elevated figure compared to years past.”

A lack of significant snowfall this past winter contributed to the current conditions.

“Snow will usually tamp down a layer of leaves and vegetation that can catch fire in the spring,” he said. “And when we have leaf-out on the trees, fire season is generally over. You get shade and the forest floor is staying more moist. Spring rain plays a role as well, but we haven’t really followed that trajectory at all in Pennsylvania.”

Apart from a good soak in April, Reed said, precipitation has been hit-or-miss — and mostly miss.

For people in the farming business, such as Herb Gearhard of Murrys­ville, that’s not good news.

“We definitely need rain,” Gearhard said. “The only blessing is that we’re able to get the hay off — you have to make hay when the sun shines, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Gearhard is in the unenviable position of both hoping for rain and hoping it stays away.

“I’m kind of hoping we get a thunderstorm (on Tuesday),” he said. “I do have hay mowed, and I’d like it to stay dry, but we need the rain. It’s a tough balance.”

A crispy lawn

The dry weather’s effects also can be seen in local lawns, which are a little “crispier” than usual for early June.

“Watering is always the best thing, but in dry conditions sometimes you get advisories to conserve and not water,” said Brian Ries, owner of B Squared Lawn Care in Hempfield.

“I tell a lot of my clients in conditions like this, cut the grass higher,” Ries said. “The longer the grass, the stronger it is, and that will also help trap dew and moisture in the morning.”

Moderate fire rating in forests

Reed said forestry staff members are essentially in the same readiness mode as they were a month ago.

“We’re still seeing wildfires that you’d normally expect in the spring,” he said. “Most of the state is at a moderate fire danger rating, which means that with any ignition source, you can expect a fire to spark up.”

Hikers and campers always should check the local fire danger rating and check with their local state district forestry office about burning open fires.

“We’re past the open-fire prohibition, which lasts until May 25, but, unfortunately, the conditions on the ground aren’t following the calendar,” Reed said. “So even though it’s legal to have an open fire, we strongly urge caution.”

In or out of state forests, Reed said, anyone building a fire would do well to make sure they have a ring to contain it, keep it small, keep it monitored and fully extinguish it with water before leaving the area.