Can this week’s chance of rain in central Pa. put a dent in the drought?

More than halfway through November, measurable rain has fallen on a handful of days in central Pa.

Not that it's amounted to much, per these numbers through Nov. 17:

Average rainfall for Harrisburg in November, 1.56 inches. Through today, .32 inches

Average rainfall for Willliamsport in November, 1.64 inches. Through today, .55 inches

Average rainfall for York in November, 1.65 inches. Through today, .41 inches

Average rainfall for Lancaster in November, 1.63 inches. Through today, .45 inches

Average rainfall for Altoona in November, 1.54 inches. Through today, .92 inches

That's an improvement over October, where some parts of Pennsylvania saw no rain at all.

But it's not going to break any droughts, remove any voluntary water restrictions , or eliminate any of the municipal burn bans and state park campfire bans that have gone into effect over the past several weeks.

Still, the pattern has changed enough to prompt a chance of rain throughout the region every few days, as compared to the endless series of cloudless days that highlighted October.

This week, that chance extends over a couple of days, with a chance of rain Wednesday afternoon and then showers possible from Wednesday through Friday night.

It's not a certainty (40% to 50%), according to the National Weather Service (NWS), nor is a lot expected. But it's something.

Meanwhile, highs are forecast to top 60 through Wednesday and then hover around 50 the rest of the week.

Farther north, those temperatures are expected to be colder, with possible lake-effect snow later this week, AccuWeather says.

As for Thanksgiving week, highs are forecast to be in the 50s for the first half and then go no higher than the mid-40s in the second half. It's a long way off, but showers are forecast for Thanksgiving, with skies clearing on Black Friday.