Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid January 7, 2025
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated January 16, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/CTP/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.
Recent precipitation has resulted in status quo conditions for Central Pennsylvania.

A Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.
1

U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor


Drought Intensity and Extent:


D2 (Severe Drought): York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill

D1 (Moderate Drought): Fulton, Franklin, Adams, Dauphin, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Somerset, Bedford, Warren, McKean, Elk, Clinton, Juniata, Perry

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:

Conditions have largely been status quo over the past week across Central Pennsylvania.
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal
Precipitation over the past 30 days has generally been near average across most of the commonwealth.



Temperature Anomalies
Although last week was warmer than average, the 30-day temperature anomalies are near to slightly below average.


Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Several communities, primarily across southeastern Pennsylvania, continue to enact either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

Agricultural Impacts
Agriculture has largely gone dormant for the season across Pennsylvania.

Fire Hazard Impacts
The Significant WIldfire Potential shows little or no risk across Pennsylvania.

Other Impacts
There are no burn bans in effect for any counties in Central Pennsylvania.

Mitigation Actions
See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Streamflows are now running near average for most of Central Pennsylvania outside of the southern tier of counties, which remain a bit below average.

Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid 12/11/2024

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Liquid equivalent precipitation over the next 7 days is expected to generally be 0.25” or less across Pennsylvania.

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The monthly outlook for January 2025 is trending towards below average temperatures and near average precipitation for the month for Pennsylvania.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The seasonal drought outlook calls for continued improvement across the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania.
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook