Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid November 1, 2024
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated December 1, 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.
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): No Extreme Drought exists across the HSA.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Delmarva.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Almost the  entire 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: 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 rainfall deficits over the last 30 days. 

Last 30 Days

Temperature

The entire region has seen above normal temperatures the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, temperatures have also been above normal.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 10/31, 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 29th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 85.6. 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 has been issued for the entire state.
  ● Per the state of Maryland, a Drought Watch 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

With the lack of recent rain, the seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 10/31, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

A cold front will cross the region today ushering in a return of near normal temperatures as high pressure builds through the weekend into early next week. A warm front will lift north of the area by Tuesday with another cold front approaching the region around the Wednesday or Thursday timeframe.

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