Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid November 27, 2024
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated December 13, 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 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 New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Delmarva.
D2 (Severe Drought): The entire forecast area is at least in Severe Drought.
D1 (Moderate Drought): 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 11/27, 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, reservoir pools across the HSA varied from normal to below normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of November 25th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 89.5. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 70. 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

With the lack of recent rain, the seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 11/26, were below normal. The exceptions were the northern half of New Jersey and lower Delaware where near normal flows were more common. 

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA.

Above normal potential is also forecast for portions of the Mid-Atlantic, Virginia, and West Virginia in September and October due to long term dryness and the potential for early leaf drop due to drought stressed hardwoods.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

High pressure is in control today. A low pressure system will take aim at the area late tonight into  Thanksgiving Day bringing another round of precipitation to the region, mostly in the form of rain. Cold Canadian high pressure will then build into the area on Friday and persist through at least early next week.

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