Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid December 13, 2024
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated December 20, 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 rainfall should help make a dent in the ongoing drought conditions across the region, although it may not yet be represented in some of the graphics included in this statement.
A Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.


U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought Intensity and Extent:

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

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

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


Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:

Continued improvement has been observed across portions of northern and western Pennsylvania.
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
Precipitation over the past 30 days has trended above normal for much of northern and western Pennsylvnaia, while southeastern Pennsylvania continued to see below normal precipitation.


Temperature Anomalies:
While temperatures have been near to slightly above average over the past 30 days, the most recent 7-days have seen well below average temperatures.


Summary of Impacts:

Hydrologic Impacts:
Several communities, primarily across southern 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:
Burn bans remain in effect for the following central Pennsylvania counties (per the PA DCNR): Blair & Montour.

Mitigation Actions:
See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:
Streamflows across southeastern and far southwestern Pennsylvania remain well below average, but continued improvement has been observed elsewhere.


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
Most of Pennsylvania is expected to receive between 0.50” and 1.00” of liquid equivalent precipitation over the next 7 days.


Long-Range Outlooks:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The monthly outlook for December 2024 calls for below average temperatures and precipitation ranging from slightly above average across northwestern Pennsylvania to slightly below average across southeastern Pennsylvania.


Drought Outlook:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
Through the month of December 2024, drought conditions are expected to continue to improve across southwestern Pennsylvania, while likely persisting across eastern Pennsylvania.