Drought Information Statement for 
Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area
Valid July 10, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated August 21, 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.
The state of Delaware has issued a Drought Watch for the entire state.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued either a Drought Watch or Drought Warning for our southeast Pennsylvania Counties.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Warning for our Maryland Eastern Shore counties. 

U.S. Drought Monitor

D4 (Exceptional Drought): No Exceptional Drought exists across the Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).
D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme Drought exists across portions of southern New Jersey and the Delmarva.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions of New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across about 3/4s of our HSA.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist across the southern Poconos and portions of the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: No degradation was observed across the four states we serve.  
 
No Change: Most areas remained the same versus experiencing degradation or improvement. 

Drought Improved: Minor improvement was observed across the four states we serve.

Precipitation

Precipitation totals the last 30 days are mixed across the region mainly due to thunderstorms. Locations that experienced thunderstorms are running above normal, and those that didn’t, are running below normal.   

Temperature

For the 7-Day Temperature Anomaly (ending 7/4), all of the forecast area experienced above normal temperatures.

For the 30-Day temperature anomaly, again, all of the forecast area experienced above normal temperatures.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 7/9, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Between June 28th and July 4th, crop moisture was either below normal or normal across the HSA.

Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were mainly below normal to normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of July 6th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile marker 77.3. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 70. This indicates the salt line is further upriver 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, a Drought Watch has been issued for the entire state.
  ● Per the state of Pennsylvania, either a Drought Watch or Drought Warning have been issued for our Southeast Pennsylvania 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 7/9, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Between June 28 and July 4, crop moisture was either below normal or normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

A cold front will slowly track across the region through Saturday. High pressure will then move in for the back half of the weekend and first half of next week. A frontal system could move in later next week.

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

Long-Range Outlooks

Long-Range signals suggest July’s average monthly precipitation will be about normal.
Long-Range signals suggest July’s average monthly temperatures have a greater chance of being above normal.