By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Heavy rains over the last couple of days offered the region a respite from near drought-like conditions.
The National Weather Service says that June was one of the sunniest and warmest on record. There were only traces of rain throughout much of the month. And during one ten-day period there was no measurable precipitation at all.
The dry weather pattern has left gardens and fields parched. Bill Hibbert is a meteorologist with the weather service. He said the drought-like conditions in this region still do not compare to what areas in the south and west can experience. And he said that means plants here are not as vulnerable.
Up to three quarters of an inch of rain fell in Western New York. That added to the half inch measured in Buffalo earlier in the week.
Hibbert said that means homeowners can look forward to cutting their grass again by next week. And it will probably keep growing.
Hibbert said weather patterns will return to the variable conditions that are more typical for Western New York during the summer.
The U.S. Climate Prediction Center now shows Western New York with an improved drought outlook. Other parts of the country, however, including portions of the south and west show persistent or worsening drought trends.
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