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Berks Heat Wave Shatters Records, Drought Grips County
5 Jul
Summary
- Berks County experienced record-breaking high temperatures in early July.
- A drought warning was issued for Berks County due to below-average rainfall.
- Thunderstorms brought relief from extreme heat, with potential for drought-breaking rain.
Berks County experienced a severe heat wave starting at the end of June, with temperatures soaring into the triple digits. On July 2nd, the high temperature reached 103 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking a record set in 1966. Several other daily high and low temperature records were also surpassed during this period.
This extreme heat occurred while the county was under a drought warning issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, urging a voluntary 10-15% reduction in water use. Rainfall totals for the year have been significantly below normal, with the airport recording only 14.89 inches by early July, well short of the average.
Thunderstorms on Saturday night provided some relief from the intense heat, with cooler temperatures expected for the upcoming week. A flash flood watch was also in effect as potentially drought-busting rain was forecast for Sunday and Monday, offering hope for alleviating the dry conditions.
June, preceding the heatwave, also saw below-average rainfall, totaling 1.85 inches against a normal of 4.77 inches. While the average monthly temperature was slightly above normal, no temperature records were threatened during that month. The current forecast suggests milder weather for the beginning of the week, with highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s.
