Is it ok for the top inch of compost to be dry, below the first inch is wet and really warm

[Bryce Thomas]

I am doing hot composting and it is going really well. I watered it down and everything is going good but the first top inch of the compost is dry dead leaves that are dry, yes it has a lid on it. Is this normal? below that its all damp and the microbes are doing their job

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

That’s normal