Drought Information Statement for 
Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area
Valid September 25, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated October 23, 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, Delaware, 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): 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 southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist across portions of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.

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: There was no change observed across New Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Drought Improved: Improvement was observed across portions of Pennsylvania.

Precipitation

Precipitation totals the last 30 days have been below normal to normal across the forecast area.

Temperature

For the 7-Day Temperature Anomaly (ending 9/20), the majority of the forecast area experienced above normal temperatures.

For the 30-Day temperature anomaly, the forecast area experienced normal to above normal temperatures.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
 
 ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 9/24, were mainly below normal. See slide 7 for more details.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Between September 13 - 19, crop moisture was normal to above normal across the HSA. See slide 8 for more details.

Other Impacts

  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were mainly normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of September 21st, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile marker 71.4. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 76. 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 southeast Pennsylvania Counties, excluding Montgomery, Delaware, 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 9/24, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Between September 13 - 19, crop moisture was normal to above normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

Low pressure developing off the East Coast and high pressure located north of the region will keep persistent north to northeast winds in place through the weekend. The storm looks to make its closest 
approach to our area late Friday and into the weekend. High pressure is expected to bring a return to tranquil weather into early next week.

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

Long-Range Outlooks

Long-Range signals suggest the average monthly precipitation through the end of October will be about normal.
Long-Range signals suggest the average monthly temperature through the end of October will be above normal.