ABUS34 KPHL 042115
PNSPHL
PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-NJZ001-007>010-012>026-DEZALL-
MDZ008-012-015-019-020-051200-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
410 PM EST FRI DEC 04 1998

...DROUGHT WATCH IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...

THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS DECLARED 
A DROUGHT WATCH IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES:

BERKS...BUCKS...CARBON...CHESTER...DELAWARE...LEHIGH...MONROE...
MONTGOMERY...NORTHAMPTON...PHILADELPHIA.

BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION DURING THE PAST FOUR MONTHS...BELOW 
NORMAL STREAMFLOW...BELOW NORMAL RESERVOIR LEVELS...AND BELOW NORMAL 
WATER LEVELS IN OBSERVATION WELLS ARE ALL FACTORS WHICH HAVE 
CONTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUANCE OF THIS DROUGHT WATCH. A DROUGHT WATCH 
IN PENNSYLVANIA CALLS FOR A 5 PERCENT REDUCTION IN WATER CONSUMPTION.

AS A RESULT OF RECENT DRY WEATHER...THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF 
CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DCNR) HAS IMPOSED A STATE-WIDE 
BAN ON ALL STATE FOREST AND GAME LANDS.  

CONDITIONS ARE ALSO DRY IN NEW JERSEY...DELAWARE...AND THE EASTERN 
SHORE OF MARYLAND.  ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES IN ALL THREE STATES ARE 
MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY.  HOWEVER...NO WATER SUPPLY DROUGHT 
WATCHES OR WARNINGS HAVE YET BEEN ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS.

A MORE DETAILED DROUGHT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THIS OFFICE ON 
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9, 1998.


JJM