Drought Information

When the well is dry we know the value of water. - Benjamin Franklin

The Commonwealth Drought Coordinator manages drought related activities and monitors drought conditions statewide. Drought watch and warning declarations are determined by the Coordinator and other DEP staff, with support of the Drought Task Force. Drought emergency declarations follow a similar process and are given final approval by the Governor.

Current Drought Declaration Status

Latest update: January 7, 2021

Pennsylvania drought condition monitoring indicators provided by the U.S. Geological Survey can be found here.

Drought declarations aren't based on one indicator alone. DEP makes drought watch, warning, or emergency declaration recommendations based on four numeric indicators: stream flow, groundwater level, precipitation, and soil moisture. There are normal ranges for all four indicators. DEP makes its drought declarations after assessing the departures from these normal ranges for periods of 3-12 months. DEP also factors in information it receives from public water suppliers.

Drought Announcements

• 1/7/21 DEP Lifts Drought Watch or Warning for 20 Counties, Three Counties Remain on Watch
• 11/17/20 DEP Lifts Drought Watch in Ten Counties, as Twenty Remain on Watch and Three on Warning
• 10/28/20 DEP Adds One County to Drought Watch, Bringing Total to Thirty
• 9/30/20 DEP Expands Drought Warning to 3 Counties and Drought Watch to 29 Counties
• 9/10/20 DEP Expands Drought Watch to 18 Counties, Declares Drought Warning for Potter County
• 8/21/20 DEP Declares Drought Watch for 16 Counties

Letters to Public Water Suppliers

• January 19, 2021 Drought Watch and Drought Warning Letter
• November 9, 2020 Drought Watch and Drought Warning Letter
• October 9, 2020 Drought Watch and Drought Warning Letter
• September 21, 2020 Drought Watch and Drought Warning Letter
  
• August 31, 2020 Letter to Public Water Suppliers

Public Water Suppliers on Restriction

• List of water suppliers employing non-essential water restrictions as of January 19, 2021
  

Kristina Peacock-Jones, P.E.
Commonwealth Drought Coordinator

Questions?
Phone: 717 772-4048
E-mail: droughtinfo@pa.gov