Drought Information Statement for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid May 22, 2026
Issued by: National Weather Service State College
The next update to this Drought Information Statement will be issued by June 5, 2026.

Short-term improvement is expected in the coming week, although long-term dryness persists across southern Pennsylvania.

The Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal drought outlook calls for existing drought conditions across south-central Pennsylvania to largely persist through at least late-July.

U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent for Central Pennsylvania:
D2 (Severe Drought): Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Adams, York, Lancaster
D1 (Moderate Drought): Schuylkill, Huntingdon, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland
D0 (Abnormally Dry): Northumberland, Columbia, Juniata, Somerset

One-Week Change in Drought Intensity:
Some D0 was removed across the middle Susquehanna Valley, while a bit of D0 was added in Somerset County. A sliver of D1 was added in the vicinity of Harrisburg.

30-Day Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
30-day precipitation was below average across south-central Pennsylvania and closer to average across the north.

Summary of Impacts:
Hydrologic Impacts:
Short-term improvement has been observed, although long-term precipitation deficits persist across south-central PA.

Agricultural Impacts:
0 to 100 centimeter soil moisture remains anomalously dry across far south-central Pennsylvania, while being near average across north-central Pennsylvania.

Fire Hazard Impacts:
The significant wildfire potential outlook remains near average across Pennsylvania for May 2026.

Other Impacts:
As of May 13, 2026, there were no countywide burn bans in effect across central Pennsylvania.

Mitigation Actions:
There are both voluntary and mandatory water restrictions in place for some communities across mainly south-central Pennsylvania. Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information.

Latest PA drought designations:
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Drought Watches and Warnings for several south-central Pennsylvania counties. (The NWS does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.)

Agricultural Conditions:
0 to 100 centimeter soil moisture remains anomalously dry across far south-central Pennsylvania, while being generally near average across north-central Pennsylvania.

Fire Hazard Impacts:
The significant wildfire potential is near average for Central Pennsylvania for the month of May 2026.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
7-day precipitation is forecast to range from one and one quarter inches up to more than two inches across Central Pennsylvania, which would be above average for late May.

8-14 Day Outlook:
8-14 day temperatures are expected to trend above average across Central Pennsylvania, with precipitation trending below average. The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.

Drought Outlook:
The latest CPC Seasonal Drought Outlook calls for lingering drought conditions across south-central Pennsylvania to persist through late August 2026, with some improvement possible across southeastern Pennsylvania. The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.