Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area Valid January 25, 2024 Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov With the Drought Watch being eliminated across SE PA, this will be the last update. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/phi/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and extent per the U.S. Drought Monitor… D4 Exceptional Drought: No Exceptional Drought exists across the Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area (HSA). D3 Extreme Drought: No Extreme Drought exists across the Mt. Holly HSA. D2 Severe Drought: No Severe Drought exists across the Mt. Holly HSA. D1 Moderate Drought: No Moderate Drought exists across the Mt. Holly HSA. D0 Abnormally Dry: There are no Abnormally Dry designations across the Mt. Holly HSA. Recent Change in Drought Intensity One Week Drought Monitor Class Change… Drought Worsened: No degradation was observed. No Change: With all of the HSA remaining unclassified from last week, there was no change to measure this week. Drought Improved: No improvement was observed. Precipitation The entire HSA has seen a rainfall surplus over the last 30 days. Temperature Over the last month, temperature departures across the HSA were between 0.0 and +6.0 degrees. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 1/25, were normal to much above normal. Agricultural Impacts Soil moisture was running above normal. Other Impacts Per state DEPs, most reservoir pools across the HSA were normal. Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of January 22nd, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated between river mile markers 50 and 54. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 69. This means the salt line was further downstream compared to normal. WITH THE PA DEP LIFTING THE DROUGHT WATCH FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE STATE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST DROUGHT UPDATE FROM THIS OFFICE UNTIL MORE STATE DECLARATIONS ARE ISSUED FOR THE HSA OR D3 IS DEFINED IN THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR. Drought Mitigation Actions Per the state of Pennsylvania, the Drought Watch for SE PA has been lifted. Keep in mind, the National Weather Service does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts With the recent rain, the seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 1/25, were normal to much above normal. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast A slow moving front across the Middle Atlantic will remain in place through Friday. Several weak low pressure systems will travel along it keeping unsettled conditions over the area. Weak high pressure will arrive later Friday and will stay through Saturday. A coastal system will slide by Saturday Night into Sunday Night. High pressure will then arrive later Monday and remains into the midweek period. The 8 to 14 day outlook calls for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.