The Lehigh Valley just hit a record-high for the 3rd time in a week
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — October was, by all accounts, a rainless month in the Lehigh Valley.
A mere two-hundredths of an inch of rainfall occurred — 0.01 inches on both the 3rd and the 24th, and traces of rain on five separate days.
By definition, the National Weather Service says a 'trace' of rain is precipitation not enough to be measured reliably.
It all amounted to a new monthly record for the driest October on record, and an all-time station record for driest month ever since records began in January of 1912.
It also pushed the Lehigh Valley, along with more than two dozen other counties across Pennsylvania, into a drought watch or warning , state officials announced.
What followed our all-time dry month has been a string of record-high temperatures.
The mercury soared to 82 degrees on Halloween at Lehigh Valley International Airport, breaking the old record of 81 degrees set back in 1950.
Election Day saw a high of 75, tying the mark set in 1935.
The trend of above-average warmth continued Wednesday, with the NWS reporting several high temperature records tied or broken at climate sites before noon.
It hit 77 degrees in the Allentown area at 12:10 p.m. – one degree shy of tying a record of 78 set in 1948.
An hour later, it was 79 degrees with gusting winds out of the southwest .
Record broken.
When will fall – and rain – return?
Many areas could approach record highs again Thursday, the weather service said. The forecast high in Allentown is 73, with the record at 74.
Despite the expected passage of a cold front during the day Thursday, forecasters said there will be a lag of cooler moving into our area.
"This will result in a very warm day with temperatures well above average, with high temperatures into the mid to upper 70s for much of the area. A few record high temperatures could be challenged," the last forecast discussion said.
Cooler air is expected to arrive Thursday night and Friday, the discussion said, "though the new air mass is not forecast to be all that cold, and therefore temperatures once again look to be above average."
Friday is expected to feature plenty of sunshine, along with a much drier air mass and an increased northwesterly breeze.
A signal for the weekend could finally bring much needed rainfall across much of our region, the weather service said, with showers arriving for the back half of Sunday.
Temperatures are forecast to be above average through the period, though Sunday could be cooler if rain arrives earlier.
