More than half of PA is facing ‘abnormally dry’ conditions. Here’s what that means
More than half of Pennsylvania is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with another 7% now under a moderate drought, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor, headquartered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Drought has lingered and expanded across much of the Northeast, the region Pennsylvania falls into for the Drought Monitor, according to a summary from the service dated Aug. 30.
Neighboring states like New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland all saw increases in moderate drought, where continued shortages of rainfall and warm weather dried out soils and stifled streamflows.
Severe drought also expanded in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, where 30-day rainfall totals are 3 to 4 inches below normal and 90-day totals are 6 to 9 inches below normal, according to the Drought Monitor.
Several Pennsylvania counties, including Centre, have experienced a dry summer and residents are being asked to conserve water under a drought watch.
Note: This graphic will automatically update as new data become available.
What are ‘abnormally dry’ or ‘moderate drought’ conditions?
“Moderate drought” is actually the mildest level of drought, as defined by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Under a moderate drought, area residents will begin to see poor plant germination, early signs of stress on crops, pastures and trees in general, increased algae and fungus growth and reports of wildfires and bans on burning.
By comparison, “abnormally dry” conditions are when you start to see lawns and vegetation turn brown, with crops and pastures showing initial signs of drought.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, an area that covers a little more than 55% of Pennsylvania is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. That represents a sharp uptick from the previous reporting week, when the area encompassed roughly 44% of the Keystone State.
The area of the state that’s under moderate drought has expanded more slowly between this week and last. In all, 7.3% of the state is experiencing moderate drought, compared to 6.9% last week.
Roughly half of Centre County falls into the abnormally dry category, according to the latest Drought Monitor map of the state, released Thursday.
Outside of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, the drought picture is either more positive or mixed.
There were broad drought improvements across parts of the South for the second week in a row as the ongoing effects of record-setting rainfall over the last two weeks became apparent, the Drought Monitor’s weekly summary said Thursday.
The North American Monsoon also continued to provide rainfall in the Southwest, leading to additional improvements across much of the region.
Drought expanded in the Northwest as warm, dry conditions continued across the region, while the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast saw a mix of improvements and setbacks due to locally heavy rain, the Drought Monitor said.
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 6:00 AM.