Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid November 8, 2024
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated November 15, 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.
Severe (D2) drought conditions persist across much of Somerset County, and have expanded into portions of Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Columbia, and Northumberland County.
Additionally, a Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.


U.S. Drought Monitor


Drought Intensity and Extent:

D2 (Severe Drought): Somerset, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Columbia, NOrhtumberland

D1 (Moderate Drought): Cambria, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Adams, York, Dauphin, Cu,berland, Perry, Montour, Lycoming, Sullivan

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Blair, Centre, Clinton, Union, Snyder, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata


Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:

Drought Worsened: Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Clearfield, Centre, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Columbia, Schuylkill, Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, York, Lancaster, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford

No Change: Somerset, Montour
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
Precipitation over the past 30 days has been well below average areawide, with little if any rain having fallen across southeastern Pennsylvania.


Temperature Anomalies:
Temperatures have been well above average over the past 7 days, and above average over the past 30 days.


Summary of Impacts:
See Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter

Hydrologic Impacts:
Several communities across southern Pennsylvania have enacted either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

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

Fire Hazard Impacts:
Significant wildfire potential is above average across much of southern and eastern Pennsylvania.

Other Impacts:
A burn ban has been enacted for all Pennsylvania state-owned park lands and forest properties.

Mitigation Actions:
See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.


Hydrologic Conditions:
Streamflows across much of Pennsylvania are below to much below average, while a few basins in the central part of the state remain near average.


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
The seven day rainfall forecast remains relatively dry for much of central Pennsylvania, with most locations seeing rainfall of a half an inch or less in the coming wekk.


Long-Range Outlooks:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The monthly outlook for November 2024 calls for above average temperatures and near to below average precipitation.


Drought Outlook:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
Drought conditions are expected to persist across southwestern and much of eastern Pennsylvania through the remainder of November 2024.