Drought Information Statement 
for Central Pennsylvania 
Valid January 7, 2025
Issued by: WFO State College
Contact Information: 
This product will be updated January 16, 2024 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/CTP/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates.

Recent precipitation has resulted in status quo conditions for Central Pennsylvania.

A Drought Warning continues for Schuylkill County.


U.S. Drought Monitor Drought Intensity and Extent:

D2 (Severe Drought): York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill

D1 (Moderate Drought): Fulton, Franklin, Adams, Dauphin, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Somerset, Bedford, Warren, McKean, Elk, Clinton, Juniata, Perry


One Week Drought Monitor Class Change:
Conditions have largely been status quo over the past week across Central Pennsylvania.

Precipitation and Percent of Normal:
Precipitation over the past 30 days has generally been near average across most of the commonwealth.

Temperature Anomalies:
Although last week was warmer than average, the 30-day temperature anomalies are near to slightly below average.

Hydrologic Impacts:
Several communities, primarily across southeastern Pennsylvania, continue to enact either voluntary or mandatory water restrictions.

Agricultural Impacts:
Agriculture has largely gone dormant for the season across Pennsylvania.

Fire Hazard Impacts:
The Significant Wildfire Potential shows little or no risk across Pennsylvania.

Other Impacts:
There are no burn bans in effect for any counties in Central Pennsylvania.

Mitigation Actions:
See “Hydrologic Impacts” above.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts:
Streamflows are now running near average for most of Central Pennsylvania outside of the southern tier of counties, which remain a bit below average.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast:
Liquid equivalent precipitation over the next 7 days is expected to generally be 0.25” or less across Pennsylvania.

Long-Range Outlooks:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The monthly outlook for January 2025 is trending towards below average temperatures and near average precipitation for the month for Pennsylvania.

Drought Outlook:
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage.
The seasonal drought outlook calls for continued improvement across the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania.