Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid August 26, 2025
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated September 3, 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 Watch for the southeast portion of the state.
There are no state declarations in place for Delaware.
There are no state declarations in place for Southeast Pennsylvania.
There are no state declarations in place 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): No Extreme Drought exists across the HSA.
D2 (Severe Drought): No Severe Drought exists across the HSA.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of northern NJ.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist across portions of the NJ and PA counties we serve.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: Degradation was observed across portions of northern NJ.  
 
No Change: There were some areas of drought that remained the same. 

Drought Improved: Improvements were observed across portions of southern New Jersey.

Precipitation

Much of the HSA has seen below normal precipitation the last 30 days. 

Temperature

When averaged (ending 8/22), much of the forecast area experienced below normal temperatures the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, our southern counties experienced below normal temperatures and our northern counties above normal temperatures.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 8/25, were mainly normal across the HSA with the exception of southern New Jersey.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Soil moisture was running normal across roughly the southern half of HSA. Soil moisture was running below normal across the northern half.

Other Impacts

  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were mostly normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of August 11th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 71. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 74. This indicates the salt line is further downstream compared to normal.

Mitigation Actions

  ● Per the state of New Jersey, a Drought Watch has been issued for the SE portion of the state.
  ● Per the state of Maryland, there are no state declarations in place for our Maryland Eastern Shore counties.
  ● Per the state of Delaware, there are no state declarations in place.
  ● Per the state of Pennsylvania, there are no state declarations in place for our SE 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 are mainly normal across the HSA with the exception of southern New Jersey.

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running normal across roughly the southern half of HSA. Soil moisture was running below normal across the northern half.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

High pressure, centered well to our west today, will slide eastward and across the Mid-Atlantic on Wednesday, before shifting offshore on Thursday. A cold front will then cross our area late Thursday night and during Friday, followed by high pressure over the weekend into early next week.

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