Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid November 15, 2024
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated November 22, 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, as well as portions of Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Columbia, and Northumberland County.
A Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.


U.S. Drought Monitor:

Drought Intensity and Extent:

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

D1 (Moderate Drought): Cambria, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Adams, York, Dauphin, Cumberland, 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:

No significant changes have occurred across Central Pennsylvania since last week
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal:

Precipitation over the past 30 days has been well below average areawide, especially across southeastern Pennsylvania.


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


Hydrologic Impacts:

Several communities, primarily across southern Pennsylvania, have enacted either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

Agricultural Impacts:

Agriculture has largely gone dormant for the season across Pennsylvania.

Fire Hazard Impacts:

Significant wildfire potential remains above average across all but northwestern Pennsylvania.

Other Impacts:

A burn ban has been enacted for all Pennsylvania state-owned park lands and forest properties, as well as the following central Pennsylvania counties (per the PA DCNR): Warren, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Juniata, Northumberland, Columbia, Lebanon and York.

Mitigation Actions:

See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:
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 7-day rainfall forecast calls for amounts ranging from 0.50-0.75” across southwestern Pennsylvania to little if any rainfall in far northeastern Pennsylvania.


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.