After spending much of the last year inside, many Pennsylvanians are itching to be outdoors this summer at gatherings, sporting events and restaurants.
Will the weather cooperate?
In NewsRadio KDKA's extended summer forecast with AccuWeather, long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok said Western Pennsylvania should expect a summer with average temperatures and more rain than last year.
"Some thunderstorms, especially the first part of the season," he said. "Maybe we dry out a little bit in August. It's not going to be as hot, especially [not as hot as] those periods we saw last year. I think it will actually be more typical what we should see around our region."
More average summer temperatures follow a cooler spring.
Pastelok said despite a wet May with several chilly nights, a transition into warmer weather isn't far behind.
"What the problem has been all spring is that we've had what we call high latitude blocking taking place and it's been forcing a lot of Canadian cool air into the region," he said.
He said the last few weeks of spring will bring temperatures into the upper 70's and low 80's.
Another factor keeping temperatures down will be rainfall and the potential for severe weather.
Pastelok said there will be a difference from last year in the region which saw less rainfall than normal last year.
"We are expecting the corridor from the Ohio Valley, Tennessee Valley to the Appalachians to have numerous showers and thunderstorms, even severe weather, a major threat here for June and July," he said.
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With average temperatures expected this summer, Pastelok adds traditional fall weather should set in rather quickly.
"The cool fronts may start coming in as early as mid to late September on us, but I do think we're still going to be above normal in September, at least," he said.
The first day of summer is June 20.