Rain the last several days has many area residents clamoring for a splash of sunshine, something forecasters predict they'll get their fill of this summer.

AccuWeather released its summer outlook Wednesday and meteorologists expect a warm and dry June through August."I think we can expect an average temperature around 3 degrees higher than normal so if we usually see the low 80s, it will rise to the mid 80s this year," said Dale Mohler, senior meteorologist. "It also sounds like we'll have more days over 90 degrees than we normally do. Folks will be heading to the pool or staying indoors and trying to keep cool."Philadelphia is projected to have 35 days over 90 degrees while they normally have just 24.A fairly persistent trough, or an area of unsettled, cooler weather, has consistently weakened over the last several years. While the trough was at its strongest two winters ago, the weakening trend is expected to continue, causing warmer air to remain prevalent."We're looking at a westerly flow across the country instead of a dip in the jet stream that would bring cooler air down from the north," Mohler said. "It also looks as if the ground is going to be dry, which heats it up more efficiently."According to precipitation totals, Palmerton has seen 1.19 inches of rain since May 1, Jim Thorpe 1.61 inches, and Lehighton 1.4 inches.Mohler said the recent rain, while inconvenient, has been a blessing."If the forecast holds out, we're going to be glad we got this rain because of the dry summer we're anticipating," he said."Water tables aren't as high as you think they would be because we didn't get a lot of snow this winter. This most recent rain likely soaked into the ground, but we could really use about three to four weeks of persistent rain."That three-to-four-week rain is not in the cards, making potential for drought conditions a realistic possibility."I think there will be a concern toward the end of summer," he said. "I wouldn't call it severe, but I think you might see some drought watches and possibly some water restrictions."