A steady and drenching rain began falling around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Tamaqua area, sending pedestrians running for cover and motorists’ windshield wipers into a frenzy.

The heavy precipitation continued for more than 3 hours, giving a much-needed soaking to an area that had been mostly untouched by rain in recent days.

As rain fell, so too did temperatures. The mid-80s high of the afternoon plummeted to 62 degrees by 5:30 p.m.

While there was some lightning and a few rumbles of thunder, PPL reported no power outages in the area

The United States Geological Survey’s National Water Information System reported that the Little Schuylkill River near Tamaqua received 1.68 inches of precipitation from the storms.

Other areas in the Times News coverage area saw little to no rain Tuesday. For example, the USGS reported that the Lehigh River at Lehighton received 0.03 inch of rain, while Beltzville Lake received 0.1 inch. The next rain in the forecast is Sunday.