The Almanack WeatherTracker

          High Fire Risk Expected Through Thanksgiving Week! 

The brush fire risk is much more elevated than normal this month and The Almanack sees several big temperature swings through the end of the month.

Much of the region is experiencing the fourth driest August 1st to early November on record. Added onto the drought will be frequent periods of breezy to gusty winds and lack of rain through the next three weeks.

Brush fires are more likely to be triggered during these periods of high wind, dry soil, leaf litter and low humidity. Remember to properly dispose of cigarette butts and to avoid lighting a campfire when camping this fall season.

The Almanack sees three pattern changes coming through the end of November. The first will be a strong cold front early next week (November 10th) that will bring the first accumulating snow in the Alleghenies. Father east, western Washington and Franklin County will see the first snowflakes of the season. The weather will stay cold through Veteran’s Day.

Then, the pattern will flip to very warm late next week all the way through the weekend before Thanksgiving. It will also remain drier than average, so the fire risk will be critical.

A change in the pattern will start in the West and push east during Thanksgiving week. There will finally be an appreciable rain across our region early during the week of Thanksgiving followed by cooler, more seasonable temperatures for the holiday itself. Even colder weather will arrive in early December. Snow showers will become frequent again in the Alleghenies to the west of I-81 for Thanksgiving weekend into early December.