BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A month-long drought has ended for the vast majority of the Lehigh Valley following a pattern of soaking rains.
- A drought, declared in early June, has cleared from the majority of the Lehigh Valley
- The status changes comes after the region saw soaking rains
- More rain is expected this week
The U.S. Drought Monitor in its latest update on Thursday showed the entirety of Northampton County as “none” for drought status, as well as the majority of Lehigh County. Only one small northwest corner of the county is still listed as “abnormally dry.”
The declaration change was made before a month's worth of rain fell on parts of the Lehigh Valley on Sunday, with 3.64 inches recorded in Center Valley, Lehigh County, and 4.15 inches reported in Martins Creek, Northampton County.
The heavy rains wreaked havoc on the region, already saturated by a round of storms last weekend that dropped 7 inches in Berks County. Bushkill Park in the Easton area was under water and flooding rains turned streets in the Slate Belt into raging rivers.
South of the Valley, torrential rainfall in Bucks County swept away several cars, according to a report from the Associated Press. At least five people died and two children, a 9-month-old boy and his 2-year-old sister, remained missing, authorities said.
"We have your backs — and we’ll be here as long as it takes to rebuild."Gov. Josh Shapiro
"Thank you to the first responders who worked through the night to rescue those caught in flood waters and keep people safe," Gov. Josh Shapiro tweeted. "We have your backs — and we’ll be here as long as it takes to rebuild."
More precipitation is expected later this week, according to the National Weather Service.
Thank you to the first responders who worked through the night to rescue those caught in flood waters and keep people safe.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 16, 2023
We have your backs — and we’ll be here as long as it takes to rebuild. pic.twitter.com/LA2xg0J8m9
While the U.S. Drought Monitor's map has changed, the state Department of Environmental Protection still lists the entire state in a “drought watch.”
Officials from the Commonwealth Drought Task Force earlier this month called for some residents to voluntarily conserve water, but none in the Valley. The next task force meeting is scheduled for July 26.
In early June, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed a swath of Pennsylvania crossing from the southeast to northwest in a moderate drought. It followed the second-driest May ever in the Lehigh Valley, behind only the 0.09 inches recorded in May 1964. Normal precipitation for the month is 3.28 inches.
