Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid October 10, 2025
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: ctp.stormreports@noaa.gov

This product will be updated October 24, 2025, 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/CTP/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.
Abnormally dry conditions developed across much of Central Pennsylvania through the late summer and early fall.

The next couple of weeks look to remain near to below average, precipitation-wise, so improvement is not expected in the near-term.

U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent for Central PA:

D2 (Severe Drought): Warren, McKean

D1 (Moderate Drought): Potter, Elk, Cameron, Tioga, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Dauphin, Schuylkill

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Clearfield, Centre, Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Franklin, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Lebanon
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Qj7g4eESCCTS0AgYEjNPUbPWZhlurGPQGWDjabp0ENE/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Recent Change in Drought Intensity:
Drought conditions have remained the same or slightly worsened across Central Pennsylvania over the past 7 days.

30-Day Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
Precipitation over the past 30 days has been below to well below average across most of Central PA.

7-Day & 30-Day Temperature Anomalies:
7-day temperature anomalies have been well above average, while 30-day temperature anomalies have been above average across Central Pennsylvania.

Hydrologic Impacts: 
Several communities across Central Pennsylvania have enacted either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

Agricultural Impacts:
A warm and dry late summer/early fall has resulted in reports of reduced crop yield across portions of Central Pennsylvania, along with plant stress, wilting, and dry lawns. However, cooler temperatures and a decreasing sun angle are allowing agriculture to begin to go dormant across the area.

Fire Hazard Impacts:
The Significant Wildfire Potential is currently elevated across much of Central Pennsylvania.

Other Impacts:
As of October 8, 2025, county’s with burn bans across Central Pennsylvania include Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Somerset.

Mitigation Actions:
See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.

As of September 29, 2025 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Drought Watch for several PA counties. (The NWS does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.)

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:
7-Day Average Streamflows are running near to below average across most of Pennsylvania.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
The 7-Day precipitation forecast ranges from 0.25-1.00” across western Pennsylvania to 1.50-2.00” across southeastern Pennsylvania.

8-14 Day Outlook:
The 8-14 day outlook for October 2025 is trending towards near to below average temperatures and below average precipitation for Pennsylvania.

Drought Outlook:
The latest seasonal drought outlook calls for little in the way of improvement for ongoing drought conditions to across Pennsylvania through Fall 2025.
Links to the latest.