Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has experienced its wettest April to date after a startling amount of rain equal to four times its average has drenched the Steel City.
Heavy rains from several storm systems have battered Pittsburgh this month. The city was doused last week, as rainfall rates exceeded 4 inches per hour. That storm was part of a system traveling northward from the Gulf Coast states, where it caused flooding so severe that caskets floated out of their graves in Texas. The deluge prompted meteorologists to issue a flash-flood emergency for Allegheny County in Pennsylvania.
In the days since, more rain has fallen, bringing the city's month-to-date rainfall total to 7.84 inches, making it the wettest April since records began in 1871.
"In case you were wondering #Pittsburgh has received 7.84" of precipitation this month. This is +5.87 above normal. Last year we had a paltry 0.77" at this time. Over 7" more this April than in 23," NWS (National Weather Service) Pittsburgh posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
In case you were wondering #Pittsburgh has received 7.84" of precipitation this month. This is +5.87 above normal. Last year we had a paltry 0.77" at this time. 😲. Over 7" more this April than in 23. 🌧️🌧️🌧️
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) April 19, 2024
"That's quite a bit," NWS meteorologist Bill Modzelewski told Newsweek.
More rain fell on Friday, although Modzelewski said, "The weekend looks dry, so we do have a little bit of a break," adding that more wet weather is in the forecast for early next week.
Drops are expected to start falling late Tuesday and continue into Wednesday, delivering around .5 inches to the area. Those amounts are normal for a spring storm.
In a previous post, NWS Pittsburgh shared a graph that revealed the first 17 days of April had been much warmer and wetter than average.
"If you feel like it's been a relatively warm and wet year so far you'd be absolutely right! Here's a look at where the Pittsburgh area stands," NWS Pittsburgh posted.
If you feel like it's been a relatively warm and wet year so far you'd be absolutely right! Here's a look at where the Pittsburgh area stands. (past week/Month to date/Season to date/Year to date) pic.twitter.com/TXLWbN68uw
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) April 19, 2024
According to the graph, Pittsburgh's average high temperature in April has been 65.7 degrees, six degrees above normal and the 12th warmest on record. The average low temperature for the month has been 46.4 degrees, eight degrees above normal and the second warmest on record. The rainfall, 7.84 inches, is nearly 6 inches above normal.
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