Following a meeting Tuesday of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Department of Environmental Protection  announced that 19 counties have moved out of drought watch into normal status.

Hydrologic conditions are now normal statewide.

“Thanks to a wet spring, Pennsylvania has seen sufficient recovery of drought indicators to return all counties to normal status,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “We’ll continue to monitor conditions heading into summer.”

DEP bases its drought declarations on four indicators: precipitation deficits (averaged from numerous gauges), stream flows, groundwater levels, and soil moisture.

The Drought Task Force will next meet when conditions warrant.

Find more drought-related information, visit DEP’s Drought Information webpage.

NewsClips:

Drought Conditions Return To Normal Statewide

Drought Really, Truly, Absolutely Over

[Posted: May 16, 2017]

5/22/2017