Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid October 21, 2024
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
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/phi/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 

The state of New Jersey has issued a Drought Watch for the entire state.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Watch for the Eastern Shore.

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent

D4 (Exceptional Drought): No Exceptional Drought exists across the Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).
D3 (Extreme Drought): No Extreme Drought exists across the HSA.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions of southern New Jersey and the Delmarva.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across southeast Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, and across most of the Delmarva counties we serve.
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: Across portions of east-central and southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Delmarva. 
 
No Change: If drought didn’t worsen, conditions remained the same across portions of east-central and southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Delmarva. 

Drought Improved: No improvement was observed.

Precipitation

The entire HSA has seen a rainfall deficits over the last 30 days. 

Last 30 Days

Temperature

Much of the region has seen above normal temperatures the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, temperatures have been close to normal.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 10/21, were mainly below normal.
  ● See the next slide for more details.

Agricultural Impacts
  ● Soil moisture was running below normal.
  ● See slide 8 for more details.

Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, most reservoir pools across the HSA were either normal or slightly below.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of October 2nd, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 82. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 72. This means the salt line was further upstream compared to normal.

Mitigation Actions
  ● Per the state of New Jersey, a Drought Watch for been issued for the entire state.
  ● Per the state of Maryland, a Drought Watch for been issued for the Eastern Shore.
  ● Keep in mind, the National Weather Service does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

With the lack of recent rain, the seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 10/21, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

High pressure will remain across our area before weakening and shifting offshore Tuesday into Wednesday. A strong, but mainly dry, cold front will cross our area Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Sprawling high pressure will then build in for Thursday and Friday before another cold front comes in on Saturday. High pressure is forecast to build in for the back half of the weekend.

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