First Half of 2012 Dry and Drought Conditions to Persist in Parts of the Northeast

NOTE: An online drought monitor and seasonal drought outlooks are available at: www.droughtmonitor.unl.edu/forecast.html

Newswise — “The first half of 2012 was dry for most of the Northeast. New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia were below normal. Maryland and Connecticut were much below normal, and Delaware had its driest on record.

“The Northeast as a whole had 89 percent of its normal precipitation for the six-month period. The lack of rain has continued into July, causing abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions to spread across the Northeast.

“Year-to-date precipitation, through July 18, is below normal at all of the First Order stations, excluding those in Maine. Thirteen of the 35 stations have had less than 80 percent of normal precipitation, the driest areas being Wilmington DE, Baltimore MD, and Philadelphia PA.

“In the Northeast, dry conditions are expected to persist in a band stretching from Lake Erie east through Albany as well as western Pennsylvania. The same holds for Maryland, Delaware, western Massachusetts and parts of Virginia, although conditions in those areas are expected to slightly improve.”

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January 1 - July 18 precipitation (inches):