Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid December 12, 2025
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated January 16, 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. 

The state of New Jersey has issued a Drought Warning for the entire state.
There are no state declarations in place for Delaware.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued a Drought Watch for Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties.
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): Severe Drought exists across portions of northern and southern New Jersey, the southern Poconos, and the Lehigh Valley.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of the four states we serve, more so across PA & NJ.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Abnormally Dry conditions exist across much of the four states we serve.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: Degradation was observed across portions of New Jersey.  
 
No Change: Most areas remained the same. 

Drought Improved: Improvement was observed across southern Delaware.

Precipitation

Much of the HSA has seen below normal precipitation the last 30 days. The exception has been the coastal plain.

Temperature

When averaged (ending 12/07), the entire forecast area experienced below normal temperatures the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, the entire forecast area experienced below normal temperatures as well.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 

  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 12/11, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

  ● Soil moisture was running below normal across much of the forecast area.

Other Impacts

  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were below normal to normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of December 8th, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 84.3. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 69. This indicates the salt line is further upstream 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, there are no state declarations in place.
  ● Per the state of Pennsylvania, a Drought Watch has been issued for Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton 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 12/11, were mainly below normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across much of the forecast area.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

High pressure will build into the region later today before weakening and shifting to our south and east into Saturday. A weak area of low pressure will track nearby later Saturday night and Sunday morning, with an arctic front crossing our area. The center of the arctic high pressure will slide to our south Tuesday before weakening as it shifts offshore on Wednesday. A warm front may slide by to our north Wednesday into Thursday.


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