Drought Information Statement for the Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Hydrologic Service Area 
Valid April 4, 2025
Issued By: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly
Contact Information: wfophi.webmaster@noaa.gov 
This product will be updated May 9, 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 Warning for the entire state.
The state of Maryland has issued a Drought Warning for the Eastern Shore.
The state of Delaware has issued a Drought Watch for the entire state.
The state of Pennsylvania has issued a Drought Watch for east-central and southeast portions of the state and a Drought Warning for Berks county. 

U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent

D4 (Exceptional Drought): No Exceptional Drought exists across the Hydrologic Service Area (HSA).
D3 (Extreme Drought): Extreme Drought exists across portions of southern New Jersey.
D2 (Severe Drought): Severe Drought exists across portions of NJ, DE, southeastern PA, and the MD Eastern Shore.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Moderate Drought exists across portions of NJ, DE, southeastern PA, and the MD Eastern Shore.
D0 (Abnormally Dry): The entire forecast area is at least considered Abnormally Dry.

Recent Change in Drought Intensity

One Week Drought Monitor Class Change…
 
Drought Worsened: No degradation was observed.  
 
No Change: Most of the forecast area remained the same. 

Drought Improved: Minor improvements were observed across NJ, PA, DE, and MD.

Precipitation

The majority of the HSA have experienced near normal to above normal precipitation over the last 30 days. Berks County, the Lehigh Valley, and the Southern Poconos have seen the largest deficits.

Temperature

When averaged (ending 3/30), the entire region has seen above normal temperatures over the last 7 days.

Over the last 30 days, temperatures have also been above normal.

Summary of Impacts

Hydrologic Impacts 
  ● Seven-day average streamflow conditions, ending 3/3, are running below normal to normal.

Agricultural Impacts
  ● Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA. 

Other Impacts
  ● Per state DEPs, reservoir pools across the HSA were either normal or below normal.
  ● Per the Delaware River Basin Commission, and as of March 31st, the salt front in the Delaware River Estuary was estimated at river mile 69.1. The normal location for this time of year is river mile marker 70. This means the salt line was further downstream 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 Warning has been issued for the Eastern Shore.
  ● 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 the East-Central and Southeast portions of the state. A Drought Warning has been issued for Berks county.
  
Keep in mind, the National Weather Service does not declare Drought Watches or Warnings.

Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts

Seven-day average streamflow conditions are running below normal to normal.

Agricultural Impacts

Soil moisture was running below normal across the HSA.

Seven Day Precipitation Forecast

A cold front will settle to our south today and tonight as high pressure builds across portions of southeastern Canada and New England. As low pressure moves up the Ohio Valley and then across the Great Lakes tonight and Saturday, the front will move northward some as a warm front. A cold front will then move through Sunday followed by a stronger cold front Monday night into early Tuesday. High pressure will then build in later Wednesday before shifting offshore into Thursday.

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