Press Release Reprinted from PA Department of Environmental Protection
Due to above average rainfall in the last three months, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has upgraded Delaware County from “drought watch” to “normal.” Three other counties were also upgraded to normal and six counties, including Chester County, were upgraded from “warning” to “watch.”
The following changes were made after the Commonwealth Drought Task Force met on August 24, 2026:
Counties returned to Normal status: Adams, Delaware, Perry, and York
Counties with drought status improved from Warning to Watch: Chester, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton, and Lancaster
Widespread rainfall has significantly improved surface water and precipitation departure drought indicators across south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania. However, groundwater levels remain slow to recover, which is the primary reason why several counties remain under Watch and Warning declarations. Increased evapotranspiration and plant uptake of rainfall can slow groundwater recharge during the growing season. Additionally, precipitation from fast–moving, intense storms often runs off quickly into surface water rather than soaking into the ground to help groundwater levels recover.
Other areas of the Commonwealth may also be experiencing localized drought issues. Residents should always follow information they receive from their local water supplier. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents to continue conservation measures. Residents are encouraged to voluntarily conserve nonessential water use.
55 counties currently in Normal Status: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, and York
How Drought Declarations are Made in Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth Drought Coordinator manages drought-related activities and monitors drought conditions statewide. Drought watch and warning are informational declarations issued by the Coordinator with input from the Drought Task Force. Drought emergency declarations, which have mandatory conservation requirements, follow a similar process but require final approval by the Governor.
Drought declarations are not based on a single factor. DEP considers four key indicators: stream flow, groundwater levels, precipitation, and soil moisture. Each has an established normal range. Declarations are made after assessing how far conditions have deviated from normal over the past 3 to 12 months. More information on how different indicators are used can be found on the Drought Monitoring Tools and Links page.
One of the most important sources of ground truth are public water suppliers who have the best understanding of their sources. DEP frequently reaches out to suppliers to report on dry conditions in their respective service areas.
PHOTO/Springton Lake — Rick Kauffman, Delaware County Daily Times, 2019
