The Pennsylvania Drought Task Force has announced that the counties of Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Carbon, Chester, Clearfield,  Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland and York counties are under a Drought Watch and Berks and Schuylkill counties are under a Drought Warning due to consistent dry conditions, with very little rain over September and October. The Drought Task Force is monitoring other areas of the state. Click here for a link to the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Drought Information page and Drought Map.  

Much of the state is also at high risk for fire danger due to the dry conditions and burning should be done only with extreme caution or avoided altogether. Township officials may view the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildfire Danger Forecast Map for current conditions.