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Most of Pennsylvania is in a drought, and it could get worse in the southcentral region

Amber South
Chambersburg Public Opinion

Franklin and Adams counties, along with most of Pennsylvania, is officially in a drought, according to the National Weather Service in State College. 

High temperatures and a lack of rain led to the ground getting too dry at the end of June, NWS meteorologist Rob Radzanowski said. 

"It will continue, or might even increase up to a moderate-level drought as it goes into the next week or two if we don't get any significant precipitation," he said on Friday. 

The National Weather Service ranks drought conditions on a scale from 0-4, 0 being abnormally dry and 4 representing an exceptional drought. The ranking is based, for the most part, on ground water levels, Radzanowski said. 

Most of Pennsylvania is considered abnormally dry, while parts of the southwest region are in a moderate drought.

The region containing York and counties east of the Susquehanna River in the southeast is the largest area of the state not in a drought, thanks to rain from frequent afternoon thunderstorms, Radzanowski said. However, if the forecast holds up, the region could slip in to drought conditions. 

It will take a few significant rain events for the region of Franklin and Adams counties to get back to normal conditions, Radzanowski said. The forecast isn't promising, especially with the above-average temperatures the area will continue to endure. 

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The average high temperature this time of year is 85, he said. Temperatures are expected to surpass that for much of the rest of the month, according to Accuweather. 

Pennsylvania's impact from Tropical Storm Fay, which as of late Friday morning was churning along the Delaware coast toward an expected landfall in New Jersey, will likely be limited to the Philadelphia area, Radzanowski said. 

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.