The summer of 2024 hadn’t officially begun when temperatures topped out above 90 degrees.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory on June 17. In the days thereafter, heat indexes hovered near 100 degrees.

In mid-July, another multiday heat advisory was issued by the National Weather Service. Temperatures were in the 90s, and high humidity was reported.

Another heat advisory was issued in late August.

The Harrisburg International Airport recorded 32 days of 90 degree or higher heat during the summer. Much of the area remains in a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Most parts of Carbon, Monroe and Schuylkill counties, and all of Northampton and Lehigh counties are experiencing a severe drought, a recent report notes.

While it has rained and snowed in recent weeks, the area was without any measurable precipitation for most of October and the beginning of November.

On Nov. 1, the Pennsylvania Drought Task Force announced a drought warning for Schuylkill and Berks counties, and a drought watch for other counties in the Times News’ coverage area.

Carbon County issued a burn ban, while Schuylkill County issued a burn advisory in early November. Many municipalities issued their own burn bans in an attempt to prevent wildfires from starting.

And Weatherly Borough issued a plea asking residents to conserve water.

In West Penn Township, some residents reported that their wells had gone dry. The township had a tanker of water brought to the municipal building for residents and asked its sewage enforcement officer, to expedite any well permits due to the dry wells.