Philadelphia, PA – After a month of dry conditions, residents across the Mid-Atlantic could see a much-needed shift in the weather this week, with forecasters calling for beneficial rainfall of at least 1 inch by next weekend.
According to the U.S. National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center, total rainfall over the past 30 days has been up to 2–4 inches below average across much of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and surrounding states. Many counties have recorded some of the driest stretches of late summer in recent years.
Forecasters say chances for precipitation will increase over the coming days, though totals will depend on how weather systems interact across the region. Even with rain in the forecast, drought-like conditions may continue, as it could take more than a single system to replenish deficits built up over the last month.
The National Weather Service highlighted that areas most affected by the rainfall shortage include central Pennsylvania and parts of northern Maryland, where totals are more than 3 inches below average. If widespread rainfall materializes, it could provide short-term relief for agriculture, river levels, and groundwater supplies.
Meteorologists caution that while the wet pattern will be welcome, long-term improvement will depend on repeated rainfall events this fall.
