Rain Brings Bugs And Bites
By Katie Fehlinger
One thing I've noticed since moving back to my hometown this past week (I hail from Allentown) is the mosquito problem! Folks around the area have reported that the bugs and the bites have been terrible down the shore and elsewhere all summer. But recent rain from Irene has definitely provided healthy breeding grounds for the little pests.
Standing water (i.e. baby pools, buckets, pooled water on tarps, etc.) is where mosquitoes breed best. And with flooding rain - an all too familiar phrase lately - on the way, you may want to keep an eye on places around your home where water can pool and settle.
Here's how the weather story breaks down the next few days: a frontal boundary is stalling over the area and remnant moisture from what was Tropical Storm Lee is being steered along it. That puts the tri-state area in the storm's path. As the storm rides along the stalled front, it won't pack as much wind, but it WILL keep its moisture. That means 2-4+ inches of rain from Tuesday-Thursday.
Flood watches are in effect until Wednesday, but may be extended. Rivers are already running high in counties like Lehigh and Montgomery, but rivers and streams across the broader area will be sensitive to flooding midweek. Expect moderate doses of rain with spurts of heavier downpours periodically over the next 48 hours, and keep the rain gear and umbrellas handy!
To end on a happier note, we'll warm up again through the week and the weekend looks beautiful so at least Mother Nature has good timing!
