Drought Information Statement for 
Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area
Valid October 8, 2026
Issued By: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov
This product will be updated November 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 Watch for their Coastal South region.
The state of Delaware has issued a Drought Watch for the entire state.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued a Drought Watch for Berks and Lehigh County.
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 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 the four states we serve.  

Drought Improved: No improvement was observed across the four states we serve.  

Precipitation

Precipitation totals the last 30 days have been above normal across portions of New Jersey. Elsewhere, 30 day precipitation totals have been below normal to normal.

Temperature

For the 7-Day Temperature Anomaly (ending 10/4), the forecast area experienced normal to above normal temperatures.

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

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 10/7, were mainly below normal. See slide 7 for more details.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Between September 27 and October 3, 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 October 5th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile marker 73.8. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 72. This indicates the salt line is further upriver compared to normal.

Mitigation Actions

  ● Per the state of New Jersey, a Drought Watch has been issued for their Coastal South region.
  ● 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, a Drought Watch has been issued for Berks and Lehigh 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 10/7, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Between September 27 and October 3, crop moisture was normal to above normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

A cold front will cross the region today. High pressure will follow. Despite the frontal passage, dry weather is expected into the weekend. The remnants of Isaias will bring a return of unsettled conditions Sunday into Monday.

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