Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid January 24, 2025
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated February 28, 2025 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/phi/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

The state of New Jersey has issued a Drought Warning for the entire state.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Warning for the Eastern Shore.
The state of Delaware has issued a Drought Watch for the entire state.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued a Drought Watch for east-central and southeast portions of the state and a Drought Warning for Berks county. 

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent

D4 (Exceptional Drought): No Exceptional Drought exists across the Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).
D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme Drought exists across portions of southern New Jersey and Delaware.
D2 (Severe Drought): Much of the forecast area, south of I-78, is at least in Severe Drought.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Most of the forecast area is at least in Moderate Drought.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): The entire forecast area is at least considered Abnormally Dry.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: No deterioration was observed. 
 
No Change: All of the forecast area remained the same. 

Drought Improved: No improvement was observed.

Precipitation

Precipitation across the HSA, over the last 30 days, has been below normal.

Last 30 Days

Temperature

When averaged (valid 1/12), the entire region has seen below normal temperatures.

Over the last 30 days, temperatures have mainly been below normal.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 1/23, varied from normal to much below normal depending on location.

Agricultural Impacts
  ● Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA. 
 
Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were mainly below normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of January 21st, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 72. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 69. This means the salt line was further upstream compared to normal.

Mitigation Actions
  ● Per the state of New Jersey, a Drought Warning has been issued for the entire state.
  ● Per the state of Maryland, a Drought Warning has been issued for the Eastern Shore.
  ● Per the state of Delaware, a Drought Watch has been issued for the entire state.
  ● Per the state of Pennsylvania, a Drought Watch has been issued for the East-Central and Southeast portions of the state. A Drought Warning has been issued for Berks county.
  
Keep in mind, the National Weather Service does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Seven-day average streamflow conditions varied from normal to much below normal depending on location.  

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

High pressure across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic will drift east this afternoon, sliding offshore early this weekend. A weak cold front will pass through the region tonight, keeping temperatures below average on Saturday. A few weak cold frontal passages can be expected through next week, with some potential for a stronger low pressure system Wednesday into Thursday.

The 8 to 14 day outlook calls for near normal temperatures and above normal precipitation.