Drought Information Statement for Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area
Valid January 14, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated February 20,2026 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. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates for regional drought status updates.

The state of New Jersey has issued a Drought Warning for the entire state.
There are no state declarations in place for Delaware.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued a Drought Watch for Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Chester Counties.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Warning for our Maryland Eastern Shore counties. 

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 northern and southern New Jersey, the southern Poconos, and the Lehigh Valley.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of the four states we serve.
D0 (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist where drought isn’t defined.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: Degradation was observed across portions of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.  
 
No Change: More areas remained the same versus showing degradation or improvement. 

Drought Improved: No improvement was observed.

Precipitation

Much of the area across the northern and western portions of our HSA have seen below normal precipitation the last 30 days. Southern areas have seen near normal or slightly above normal conditions.

Temperature

When averaged (ending 1/09), the entire forecast area experienced below normal temperatures the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, the entire forecast area experienced below normal temperatures as well.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 1/13, were either normal or below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Crop moisture was running above normal across much of the forecast area.
  ● See slide 8 for more details.

Other Impacts

  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were below normal to normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of January 12th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile marker 76. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 69. This indicates the salt line is 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 our Maryland Eastern Shore counties.
  ● Per the state of Delaware, there are no state declarations in place.
  ● Per the state of Pennsylvania, a Drought Watch has been issued for Carbon, Monroe, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, and Chester Counties.  

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

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 1/13, were either normal or below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Crop moisture was running above normal across much of the forecast area.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Low pressure will develop across the region into tonight. An associated cold front will push offshore early Thursday morning. Canadian high pressure will build to our southwest through end of the week. A couple of systems may impact the area over the weekend into early next week, then Canadian high pressure returns into the middle of next week.

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