MILD SATURDAY:
- Meteorologist Steve Knight
It will be a pretty decent day for late February, with a mix of clouds and sun and highs in the upper 40s.
WATCHING SA coastal low will form to our Southeast on Sunday and bring us some precipitation, but current guidance suggests rain mixing in with some wet snow showers. Temperatures will be too warm to support a big snowfall, but it will be a sloppy day with some slushy accumulations possible. Road surfaces will likely just remain wet, but temperatures overnight will drop down to around 30 so there could be a few slick spots after sunset. This one is setting up to be more of a nuisance than a major Nor'Easter.
CBS 21 FIRST WARNING WEATHER FORECAST:
Friday: Morning Rain, Mostly Cloudy: High 48
Tonight: Partly Cloudy: Low 34
Saturday: Partly Sunny: High 48
Sunday: Cloudy, Rain Mixing with Snow: High 38
UNDAY:
Counties Elevated to Drought Warning
These counties have moved from Drought Watch to Drought Warning, meaning conditions have worsened and water conservation becomes more urgent.
Franklin County
- Now under a Drought Warning due to worsening groundwater levels and continued precipitation deficits.
- Franklin was also listed among several Midstate counties elevated to warning status after a Task Force meeting.
Perry County
- Also elevated to Drought Warning.
- Perry has been consistently included among Midstate counties experiencing worsening drought conditions.
Cumberland County
- Now in Drought Warning.
- Cumberland has appeared repeatedly in drought declarations over the past year, reflecting persistent dry conditions.
Adams County
- Elevated to Drought Warning as well.
- Adams County has been part of the cluster of south‑central counties facing declining groundwater and rainfall deficits.
🌦 Counties Under Drought Watch
A Drought Watch is less severe than a warning but signals that residents and municipalities should begin voluntary conservation.
Dauphin County
- Currently under a Drought Watch.
- Dauphin has been in and out of drought watches over the past year, reflecting fluctuating but generally dry conditions.
York County
- Also under a Drought Watch.
- York has alternated between watch and warning status in recent years, indicating ongoing vulnerability to precipitation deficits.
🌍 Regional Context
The Commonwealth Drought Task Force notes that south‑central and eastern Pennsylvania are experiencing:
- Declining groundwater levels
- Ongoing precipitation deficits
- Worsening drought indicators across multiple hydrologic measures
This aligns with the counties listed, all of which sit in the Midstate region where rainfall has been inconsistent and soil moisture remains low.