Warm weather usually means the start of spending more time outside, but so far in Northeastern Pennsylvania this year, it has been a wash.
The Wilkes-Barre-Scranton area has seen extraordinarily persistent rain in recent weeks. The National Weather Service branch of Binghamton indicates that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport has recorded at least a trace of precipitation for 12 consecutive weekends — with more rain set to be on the horizon this weekend as well.
Bryan Greenblatt, a NWS Binghamton meteorologist, said the recent rain spell has been somewhat exceptional. There have been six days of rain through June 12 with total precipitation coming in at 2.67 inches, or 1.49 inches above normal at this point in the month.
May saw rain on 20 of its 31 days, with total precipitation reaching a torrential 7.58 inches — about 133% higher than the normal May monthly rainfall of 3.26 inches. This total is a truly historic figure, Greenblatt said, making the past month the third rainiest May in the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton area on record, going back to 1901. (The only two rainier Mays fell in 1989 and 1946 with totals of 8.02 inches and 7.62 inches, respectively.)
“Pretty wet and definitely a pretty long time frame of record,” Greenblatt said.
The NWS branch at State College has found that rain at the Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport had been 7.4 inches in the last 30 days, which is about 2.9 inches above normal; and 12.8 inches in the last 60 days, or about 4.1 inches above normal. State College NWS meteorologist Joe Bauco said the totals were “nothing too crazy.” He also said the rains were helping the area recover from the recent drought conditions it had experienced.
A ticket booth is set up by the Ferris Wheel in parking lot across from The Ritz Theater in preparation for the Road to Warped Tour in Scranton Friday, June 13, 2025. The event is this weekend. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Whatever the benefits may be, the rain might be dampening the spring and early summer seasons for businesses and events.
Jeffrey Woytowich, the owner of The Cafe in Plains Twp., said the rain has had effects on several aspects of his business, occasionally requiring him to relocate patio guests inside or causing the business to cancel several events with their vintage ice cream truck.
The largest impact for Woytowich has been a need to keep dry its many catered events, which pick up this time of year amidst wedding and graduation seasons. He said he has tried to prepare his clients the best he can for this especially rainy spring.
The band A Skylit Drive prepares for sound check on the stage in the parking lot across from The Ritz Theater to prepare for Road to Warped Tour in Scranton Friday, June 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Head Chef at Backyard Ale House James Bodnar smokes chicken in the parking lot across from The Ritz Theater in preparation for the Road to Warped Tour in Scranton Friday, June 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Kate Cotton, of Seraphic Brands, takes out inventory to sell in preparation for the Road to Warped Tour. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Alisha Bennett, of Kids & Kreatures clothing company, puts out t-shirts that will be on sale for the Road to Warped Tour in the parking lot across from The Ritz Theater in downtown Scranton Friday, June 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Bri Harper, of Fully Exposed Graphics, hangs up shirts that she printed for clothing company Hell and Company in preparation for the Road to Warped Tour. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A mural depicting jazz musician and composer Duke Ellington looks out on a wrestling ring in the parking lot across from The Ritz Theater in Scranton Friday, June 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
“A lot of times when people book weddings, I say ‘we don’t live in Southern California,’” Woytowich said. “This year’s definitely a good example of that. This year’s definitely a tough year to prepare for outside events.”
Woytowich said the weather has required him to prepare with more tents and tarps to get ready for strong storms during outdoor catering — but sometimes even that is not enough. He recalled one graduation party with about 120 people that was hit by a tempest so strong, they had to relocate the entire party into his restaurant.
“We did it last minute… ‘move the band here, move everything here,’” Woytowich said. “Tents came down, it was a messy one, but it’s just something in this business you just always have to prepare for when you do outside events…”
John Challenger, the owner of the Crimson House in Pottsville, said outdoor seating has typically been an important part of his business that has been sorely missed this year.
“I kept thinking I was going to bring out the outdoor furniture again, but every weekend it’s raining,” Challenger said.
Challenger said he anticipated only winter weather to have such a drastic impact on business, but has found that precipitation has a chilling effect on business at any temperature.
“I thought only snow impacted, but I think the rain is definitely impacting as well,” Challenger said. “People just don’t want to go out.”
Challenger said he anticipated the rain impacting other businesses in the area as well, noting that outdoor seating has typically been a universal draw for many restaurants. He noted this week he had customers who were excited to relax and sit outside for one of the rare dry days these past couple months.
“People love sitting outside, they love being outside, people watching,” Challenger said.
Greenblatt attributed the persistent rain to an active weather pattern in recent months and occasions of showers and thunderstorms stalling over regions for extended periods of time, which has recently created some flooding in certain locations.
For those whom grey skies have put in the dumps, is there sunshine on the horizon? Greenblatt said forecasts currently indicate that there will be above average temperatures and near-normal precipitation for the next two weeks, a relative break compared to a dreary May.
But there is still more dower weather ahead. The NWS Binghamton forecasts indicates there is a 70% chance of rain Saturday and a 50% chance of rain Sunday.
“This weekend actually looks pretty cloudy,” Greenbalt said.