Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid December 23, 2024
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated January 10, 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): Most of the 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: No deterioration was observed. 
 
No Change: The majority of the forecast area remained the same. 

Drought Improved: Improvement was observed across portions of New Jersey and the Delmarva.

Precipitation

Precipitation across the HSA varied the last 30 days ranging from below normal to above normal. The most precipitation fell across northern portions of the forecast area. 

Last 30 Days

Temperature

When averaged (valid 12/19), the entire region has seen either normal or above normal temperatures.

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

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 12/22, varied widely across the region from much below normal to normal. See the next slide for more details.

Agricultural Impacts
  ● Soil moisture was running below normal across much of the HSA. 
  ● See slide 8 for more details.

Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were mainly below normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of December 16th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 80.4. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 69. This means the salt line was further upstream compared to normal.

Keep in mind, the National Weather Service does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Seven-day average streamflow conditions varied widely from much below normal to normal. Below normal streamflows were more prevalent across our southern area of responsibility. 

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across much of the cross the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Arctic high pressure across New England will weaken and shift offshore through tonight. A weak system will bring a round of light wintry mixed precipitation to the region the morning of Christmas Eve. Cool and dry high pressure will then settle to our northeast, with mostly dry conditions and gradually moderating temperatures. The high will retreat into the weekend, yielding another possibility of precipitation. 

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