Western Pa. unlikely to set rainfall record in 2019

This year may have been one of the wettest in Pennsylvania history, but it’s got a few more inches to go if it wants to top the list.

As of Sunday around 4 p.m., the Pittsburgh area recorded 51.94 inches of rain with a likely chance to reach 52 inches by the morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Normal average annual precipitation for the region is only 37.66 inches.

Even Sunday’s steady rain isn’t sufficient to make 2019 the region’s wettest year on record, though.

That honor goes to 2018, when the area saw 57.83 inches of precipitation — though it took until the final day of the year to claim the top spot from 2004 (57.41 inches.)

NWS meteorologist John Darnley said that as of Sunday afternoon, 2019 is the fourth wettest year on record dating back to 1871.

Currently third on the list, 1990 saw 52.24 inches of rain in the Pittsburgh region, according to National Weather Service records.

Over the summer, the region was on a record-setting pace, having received 32.18 inches by late July. At the time, that was a full 2 inches ahead of 2018.

“It doesn’t look like it’s going to be that way now,” said NWS meteorologist Lee Hendricks said.

The region experienced 3.01 inches of rain this month as of Sunday afternoon. Average December rain totals is 2.68 inches.

“We’re a little bit lower than last year, but we’re still above normal,” Darnley said. Last year, the weather service stationed in Moon Township recorded 4.29 inches of rain.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are forecast to be partly sunny with highs near 40 degrees.