Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid May 9, 2025
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated June 13, 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/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 Watch 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): No Extreme Drought exists across the HSA.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions northern NJ and southeastern PA.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of NJ, southeastern PA, and the MD Eastern Shore. .
D0: (Abnormally Dry): The entire forecast area is at least considered Abnormally Dry except for central NJ and portions of the Delmarva.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: No degradation was observed.  
 
No Change: Most of the forecast area remained the same. 

Drought Improved: Minor improvements were observed across portions of NJ and PA.

Precipitation

The majority of the  HSA have experienced below normal to normal precipitation over the last 30 days. 

Temperature

When averaged (ending 5/5), the entire region has seen above normal temperatures over the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, temperatures have also been above normal for most of the forecast area.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 5/9, are variable across the HSA. See the next slide for more details.

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

Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were either below normal or normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of May 5th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 67.6. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 68. 

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 Watch 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

Seven-day average streamflow conditions are variable across the HSA, above normal across the north, below normal across the south.
 

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across most of the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Surface low pressure crosses our area today. This exits the region Saturday with high pressure building in through the weekend. A weak cold front however may settle across our area Saturday night into Sunday. High pressure shifts offshore Monday into Tuesday, then low pressure looks to arrive from the southwest Wednesday into Thursday.

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