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All of Pennsylvania remains under a drought watch despite recent rainfall in some areas the last few weeks, the state Department of Environmental Protection announced Friday.
The decision was made after a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force this week. Despite the rain in some areas, significant portions of the state remain behind their average rainfall totals, according to the DEP.
Drought Task Force Maintains Drought Watch Status for All of Pennsylvania: https://t.co/dNoH5jLLPv
Drought watch declarations are not based on one indicator alone, such as precipitation. DEP assesses information provided by public water suppliers and data on four hydrologic… pic.twitter.com/QTxjgNMiNJ
— PA Department of Environmental Protection (@PennsylvaniaDEP) July 7, 2023
“Persistent rain will be needed for more consistent meaningful improvement to groundwater levels,” the DEP said in a news release.
Rainfall amounts aren’t the only factor that determines drought watch status. Other measures such as stream and river flow, groundwater level and soil moisture, are also factored in, according to the DEP.
The U.S. Drought Monitor, which tracks and displays drought conditions nationwide, released its updated drought map Thursday. It shows roughly half of the state under “moderate drought” conditions. Most of the other half is considered “abnormally dry,” the precursor to drought.
Curtis Riganti – Natioanl Drought Mitigation Center
The July 4, 2023, map from the U.S. Drought Monitor for the Northeast showing drought conditions. (Curtis Riganti – Natioanl Drought Mitigation Center)
Only a small portion of extreme southeastern Pennsylvania, northeastern Pennsylvania and southwestern Pennsylvania are not experiencing any drought conditions, according to that map
With the state still under a drought watch, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily reduce their water consumption. In addition, 18 public water suppliers are asking for voluntary water conservation in their communities.
The statewide drought watch was first issued June 15. The Commonwealth Drought Task Force will next meet July 26.
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