Drought Information Statement for 
Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area
Valid August 20, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated September 25, 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, excluding Montgomery and Philadelphia.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Watch 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 a small portion of southern New Jersey.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions of New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist where drought isn’t defined with the exception of the Southern Poconos and Lehigh Valley.

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: Much of the HSA remained the same versus experiencing degradation or improvement. 

Drought Improved: Improvement was observed across portions of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.


Precipitation

Precipitation totals the last 30 days have been normal to above normal across much of the area.
Last 30 Days

Temperature

For the 7-Day Temperature Anomaly (ending 8/15), all of the forecast area experienced above normal temperatures.

For the 30-Day temperature anomaly, most of the forest area experienced normal temperatures.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 8/19, were mainly below normal. See slide 7 for more details.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Between August 9 - 15, crop moisture was about normal across most of the HSA. See slide 8 for more details.

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 August 17th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile marker 70.6. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 74. This indicates the salt line is further downriver 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 Watch 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 has been issued for our our southeast Pennsylvania Counties, excluding Montgomery and Philadelphia.  

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

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 8/19, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Between August 9 - 15, crop moisture was about normal across most of the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

A strong cold front moves in today and slowly pushes through the region tonight. The front stalls offshore, with multiple waves of low pressure riding along the front through the weekend. High pressure finally nudges in for early next week, pushing the front further out to sea and ushering in a period of more tranquil weather.

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

Long-Range Outlooks

The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.

Long-Range signals suggest August’s average monthly precipitation will be about normal.
Long-Range signals suggest August’s average monthly temperatures will be about normal.