Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid September 5, 2024
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This will be the final issuance of this product until drought conditions worsen.  
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 rainfall has allowed for improvement to drought conditions across the area.
Somerset County, which has seen the worst of the drought, has improved a category from D3 (Extreme) to D2 (Severe).

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent by County

D2 (Severe Drought): 
Somerset, Cambria, Bedford
D1 (Moderate Drought): 
Cambria, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin
D0: (Abnormally Dry): 
Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Warren, McKean, Elk

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
One Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 
 
Drought conditions have not changed in the past week across Central Pennsylvania

Precipitation and Percent of Normal
Rainfall over the past 30 days has been above normal for much of Central PA, aided largely by the rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Debby in early August.

Temperature Anomalies
Temperatures have been above normal over the past 7 days, but closer to normal over the past 30 days.

Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts 
Reports of streams and ponds running low or drying up in Somerset and Bedford counties from CMOR (link above).

Agricultural Impacts
Reports of crop loss and below normal crop yields from Somerset and Bedord counties from CMOR.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Some communities have implemented burn bans.

Other Impacts
There are no additional known impacts at this time.

Mitigation Actions
There have been reports of water conservation efforts in parts of Somerset County from the Drought Impacts Reporter (link above).

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Portions of northern PA could see in excess of an inch of rain in the coming week.

Unfortunately, areas that have been the driest are expected to see the least amount of rain in the upcoming week.

Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The Climate Prediction Center’s monthly outlook for September is projecting near to below normal temperatures and near to below normal preciptiation for Central PA.

Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Drought conditions are expected to persist through the month of September across southwestern and portions of south-central Pennsylvania.
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook 
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook