Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid February 21, 2025
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: ctp.stormreports@noaa.gov
This product will be updated March 7, 2025 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.

Subtle improvement has been observed across portions of Central Pennsylvania.
A Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.


U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent:

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

D1 (Moderate Drought): Fulton, Franklin, Adams, Dauphin, Northumberland, Columbia

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Bedford, Centre, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Cumberland, Snyder, Union, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Potter, McKean, Elk, Warren


One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:
Subtle improvement has been observed across portions of Central Pennsylvania.
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
Precipitation over the past 30 days has been slightly above average across the Allegheny Plateau and the Ridge and Valley region, while running slightly below normal across the middle and lower Susquehanna Valley.


Temperature Anomalies:
7-day and 30-day temperature anomalies have generally been below average across Central Pennsylvania.


Summary of Impacts:

Hydrologic Impacts:
Several communities, primarily across south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania, continue to enact either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

Agricultural Impacts:
Agriculture remains dormant for the winter 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 generally running near to slightly above average across Central Pennsylvania.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
Liquid equivalent precipitation over the next 7 days is expected to range from around 0.10-0.25 inches across south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania to 0.75-1.00 inches across far northwestern Pennsylvania.

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

Drought Outlook:
The latest seasonal drought outlook calls for drought conditions to persist across the Lower Susquehanna Valley and southeastern Pennsylvania through Spring 2025. The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.