Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid December 29, 2024
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated January 6, 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 precipitation has resulted in continued slow improvement for much 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, Cumberland, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Somerset, Bedford, Warren, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Elk, Clinton, Juniata, Perry


Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:
Continued gradual improvement has been observed across portions much of the area.
 

Precipitation and Percent of Normal
Precipitation over the past 30 days has trended closer to average across much of the commonwealth.


Temperature Anomalies
Temperatures have been below average statewide for both the 7-day and 30-day periods.


Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts:
Several communities, primarily across southeastern 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:
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 now running near average for all of Central Pennsylvania outside of the Lower Susquehanna Valley.


Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
Liquid equivalent precipitation over the next 7 days is expected to range from 0.50-0.75” across south-central PA to over 1.50” across NW PA.


Long-Range Outlooks:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The monthly outlook for January 2025 is trending towards above average temperatures statewide, and near average precipitation (possibly above average across far western PA).


Drought Outlook:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The seasonal drought outlook calls for continued improvement across the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania.