Pennsylvania Drought Periods

Periods of 2 or More Months of Severe or Extreme Drought

-- Pocono Mountains Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
9/1895 - 1/1896 5 months -3.96 in 1/1896
12/1896 - 4/1897 5 months -3.42 in 3/1897
11/1900 - 2/1901 4 months -3.72 in 2/1901
8/1909 - 1/1910 6 months -4.64 in 11/1909
7/1910 - 8/1910 2 months -3.34 in 8/1910
10/1910 - 3/1911 6 months -3.85 in 12/1910
5/1911 - 7/1911 3 months -3.72 in 5/1911
10/1914 - 12/1914 3 months -3.95 in 11/1914
10/1922 - 12/1923 15 months -4.83 in 12/1922
8/1930 - 6/1931 11 months -5.38 in 1/1931
10/1931 - 2/1932 5 months -4.67 in 12/1931
11/1939 - 1/1940 3 months -3.61 in 1/1940
10/1963 - 12/1963 3 months -4.04 in 10/1963
7/1964 - 4/1966 22 months -5.60 in 11/1964
6/1966 - 11/1966 6 months -4.08 in 8/1966
1/1967 - 2/1967 2 months -3.45 in 2/1967
12/1980 - 1/1981 2 months -3.70 in 1/1981
8/1995 - 9/1995 2 months -3.31 in 8/1995

-- East Central Mountains Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
11/1895 - 1/1896 3 months -3.97 in 1/1896
11/1900 - 2/1901 4 months -4.06 in 2/1901
9/1909 - 1/1910 5 months -4.43 in 11/1909
7/1910 - 8/1910 2 months -3.27 in 8/1910
10/1910 - 3/1911 6 months -4.08 in 12/1910
5/1911 - 7/1911 3 months -3.76 in 5/1911
10/1914 - 12/1914 3 months -3.82 in 11/1914
11/1922 - 12/1922 2 months -3.90 in 12/1922
5/1923 - 12/1923 8 months -4.29 in 8/1923
8/1930 - 6/1931 11 months -4.95 in 1/1931
9/1931 - 2/1932 6 months -4.40 in 12/1931
4/1932 - 9/1932 6 months -4.24 in 9/1932
11/1939 - 1/1940 3 months -3.90 in 1/1940
9/1941 - 2/1942 6 months -4.16 in 11/1941
9/1957 - 11/1957 3 months -3.07 in 10/1957
8/1964 - 1/1966 18 months -4.95 in 7/1965
6/1966 - 11/1966 6 months -4.21 in 8/1966
1/1967 - 2/1967 2 months -3.40 in 2/1967
8/1980 - 1/1981 6 months -5.07 in 1/1981
3/1985 - 4/1985 2 months -4.30 in 4/1985
8/1991 - 2/1992 7 months -3.53 in 2/1992
7/1999 - 8/1999 2 months -3.54 in 8/1999

-- Southeastern Piedmont Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
11/1895 - 1/1896 3 months -3.62 in 1/1896
12/1900 - 2/1901 3 months -4.00 in 2/1901
11/1909 - 12/1909 2 months -3.81 in 12/1909
10/1910 - 3/1911 6 months -3.62 in 12/1910
8/1923 - 12/1923 5 months -3.53 in 8/1923
8/1930 - 6/1931 11 months -5.15 in 1/1931
11/1931 - 12/1931 2 months -3.51 in 12/1931
11/1941 - 1/1942 3 months -3.17 in 11/1941
12/1949 - 1/1950 2 months -3.40 in 1/1950
8/1957 - 11/1957 4 months -3.84 in 11/1957
7/1963 - 8/1963 2 months -3.45 in 8/1963
8/1964 - 2/1965 7 months -4.08 in 11/1964
4/1965 - 1/1966 10 months -4.47 in 12/1965
6/1966 - 8/1966 3 months -4.64 in 8/1966
7/1999 - 8/1999 2 months -3.40 in 7/1999
11/2001 - 5/2002 7 months -4.64 in 2/2002
7/2002 - 9/2002 3 months -3.93 in 8/2002

-- Lower Susquehanna Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
11/1895 - 2/1896 4 months -4.67 in 1/1896
4/1896 - 1/1897 10 months -4.09 in 8/1896
10/1900 - 2/1901 5 months -4.84 in 2/1901
12/1908 - 1/1909 2 months -3.51 in 1/1909
8/1909 - 1/1910 6 months -4.54 in 12/1909
3/1910 - 5/1910 3 months -4.15 in 3/1910
10/1910 - 7/1911 10 months -4.33 in 7/1911
10/1914 - 12/1914 3 months -3.91 in 11/1914
10/1922 - 12/1923 15 months -4.36 in 12/1922
6/1925 - 9/1925 4 months -3.97 in 9/1925
5/1926 - 7/1926 3 months -3.40 in 7/1926
7/1930 - 4/1932 22 months -6.77 in 1/1931
8/1932 - 9/1932 2 months -3.46 in 9/1932
10/1941 - 2/1942 5 months -3.64 in 11/1941
11/1964 - 1/1965 3 months -3.27 in 12/1964
6/1965 - 9/1965 4 months -3.70 in 7/1965
11/1965 - 1/1966 3 months -3.98 in 12/1965
5/1966 - 8/1966 4 months -5.55 in 8/1966
7/1991 - 8/1991 2 months -3.57 in 7/1991
10/1991 - 2/1992 5 months -3.54 in 11/1991
7/1999 - 8/1999 2 months -3.47 in 7/1999
11/2001 - 7/2002 9 months -5.30 in 2/2002

-- Middle Susquehanna Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
9/1895 - 2/1896 6 months -5.35 in 1/1896
4/1896 - 6/1897 15 months -4.86 in 8/1896
10/1897 - 11/1897 2 months -3.46 in 10/1897
5/1900 - 4/1901 12 months -5.79 in 2/1901
6/1901 - 7/1901 2 months -3.65 in 7/1901
11/1908 - 3/1909 5 months -4.73 in 1/1909
5/1909 - 7/1911 27 months -6.45 in 12/1909
9/1914 - 1/1915 5 months -4.79 in 11/1914
4/1915 - 7/1915 4 months -3.46 in 5/1915
11/1916 - 5/1917 7 months -4.02 in 5/1917
11/1918 - 4/1919 6 months -3.42 in 4/1919
3/1921 - 4/1924 38 months -6.65 in 12/1922
3/1925 - 1/1926 11 months -4.42 in 9/1925
3/1926 - 9/1926 7 months -4.58 in 7/1926
12/1928 - 3/1929 4 months -3.77 in 3/1929
7/1929 - 9/1929 3 months -4.13 in 8/1929
1/1930 - 9/1932 33 months -7.51 in 1/1931
7/1934 - 8/1934 2 months -3.28 in 8/1934
11/1939 - 1/1940 3 months -4.06 in 1/1940
11/1953 - 1/1954 3 months -3.14 in 1/1954
10/1964 - 2/1965 5 months -3.84 in 11/1964
5/1965 - 9/1965 5 months -4.39 in 7/1965
7/1966 - 8/1966 2 months -3.82 in 8/1966
12/1980 - 1/1981 2 months -3.95 in 1/1981
7/1991 - 2/1992 8 months -3.83 in 11/1991
8/1995 - 9/1995 2 months -3.62 in 9/1995

-- Upper Susquehanna Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
9/1895 - 1/1896 5 months -4.76 in 1/1896
5/1896 - 10/1896 6 months -4.08 in 8/1896
12/1896 - 4/1897 5 months -3.55 in 1/1897
6/1900 - 2/1901 9 months -4.96 in 2/1901
10/1908 - 3/1909 6 months -5.16 in 12/1908
5/1909 - 9/1911 29 months -7.18 in 12/1909
8/1913 - 9/1913 2 months -3.12 in 9/1913
10/1914 - 1/1915 4 months -4.89 in 11/1914
3/1915 - 6/1915 4 months -3.75 in 4/1915
11/1916 - 5/1917 7 months -3.67 in 4/1917
4/1921 - 2/1922 11 months -3.95 in 10/1921
4/1922 - 5/1922 2 months -3.58 in 5/1922
9/1922 - 3/1924 19 months -5.63 in 12/1922
8/1929 - 9/1929 2 months -3.40 in 8/1929
7/1930 - 4/1932 22 months -7.26 in 2/1931
8/1932 - 9/1932 2 months -3.93 in 9/1932
6/1955 - 7/1955 2 months -3.81 in 7/1955
7/1962 - 8/1962 2 months -3.03 in 7/1962
9/1964 - 9/1965 13 months -5.38 in 12/1964
7/1966 - 2/1967 8 months -4.08 in 8/1966
11/1988 - 2/1989 4 months -3.93 in 1/1989
6/1991 - 2/1992 9 months -4.31 in 11/1991

-- Central Mountains Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
9/1895 - 10/1896 14 months -5.51 in 1/1896
12/1896 - 1/1897 2 months -3.47 in 1/1897
3/1897 - 4/1897 2 months -3.14 in 4/1897
10/1897 - 11/1897 2 months -3.56 in 10/1897
5/1900 - 1/1902 21 months -6.01 in 12/1900
5/1905 - 7/1905 3 months -3.08 in 5/1905
10/1908 - 3/1909 6 months -5.66 in 12/1908
5/1909 - 7/1911 27 months -6.37 in 12/1909
9/1914 - 1/1915 5 months -4.79 in 11/1914
3/1915 - 6/1915 4 months -4.06 in 4/1915
4/1917 - 5/1917 2 months -3.08 in 5/1917
4/1921 - 11/1921 8 months -4.35 in 7/1921
1/1922 - 2/1922 2 months -3.21 in 2/1922
5/1922 - 11/1923 19 months -6.64 in 12/1922
8/1925 - 9/1925 2 months -3.83 in 9/1925
4/1926 - 7/1926 4 months -4.03 in 7/1926
7/1930 - 6/1931 12 months -7.57 in 12/1930
11/1931 - 12/1931 2 months -3.73 in 11/1931
8/1939 - 9/1939 2 months -3.53 in 8/1939
11/1939 - 2/1940 4 months -3.84 in 1/1940
11/1949 - 12/1949 2 months -3.26 in 11/1949
6/1963 - 8/1963 3 months -3.08 in 7/1963
10/1963 - 12/1963 3 months -3.79 in 10/1963
10/1964 - 2/1965 5 months -4.55 in 12/1964
6/1965 - 9/1965 4 months -3.61 in 7/1965
7/1966 - 8/1966 2 months -3.64 in 8/1966
7/1991 - 6/1992 12 months -4.40 in 12/1991
8/1995 - 9/1995 2 months -3.83 in 9/1995
11/1998 - 12/1998 2 months -4.28 in 12/1998
6/1999 - 1/2000 8 months -4.22 in 8/1999
7/2001 - 8/2001 2 months -3.41 in 8/2001

-- South Central Mountains Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
9/1895 - 8/1896 12 months -5.60 in 1/1896
10/1897 - 11/1897 2 months -3.58 in 10/1897
5/1900 - 7/1901 15 months -5.85 in 2/1901
10/1901 - 11/1901 2 months -3.84 in 11/1901
11/1904 - 2/1905 4 months -3.60 in 12/1904
11/1908 - 3/1909 5 months -4.65 in 12/1908
8/1909 - 7/1911 24 months -5.35 in 12/1909
9/1914 - 12/1914 4 months -4.47 in 11/1914
4/1915 - 5/1915 2 months -3.34 in 4/1915
3/1921 - 8/1921 6 months -3.83 in 7/1921
6/1922 - 11/1923 18 months -6.14 in 12/1922
4/1925 - 9/1925 6 months -4.38 in 9/1925
5/1926 - 7/1926 3 months -3.80 in 7/1926
7/1930 - 8/1931 14 months -8.13 in 1/1931
10/1931 - 2/1932 5 months -3.91 in 11/1931
8/1932 - 9/1932 2 months -3.81 in 9/1932
11/1953 - 2/1954 4 months -4.33 in 2/1954
8/1963 - 12/1963 5 months -4.58 in 10/1963
11/1964 - 12/1964 2 months -3.36 in 12/1964
6/1965 - 1/1966 8 months -4.72 in 12/1965
6/1966 - 2/1967 9 months -4.77 in 1/1967
5/1969 - 6/1969 2 months -3.30 in 5/1969
7/1991 - 6/1992 12 months -4.67 in 11/1991
10/2001 - 4/2002 7 months -5.18 in 2/2002
7/2002 - 8/2002 2 months -3.46 in 8/2002

-- Southwest Plateau Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
7/1895 - 8/1896 14 months -5.32 in 1/1896
10/1897 - 11/1897 2 months -3.66 in 10/1897
11/1899 - 1/1900 3 months -3.03 in 1/1900
4/1900 - 5/1901 14 months -5.21 in 2/1901
10/1901 - 1/1902 4 months -4.14 in 11/1901
11/1904 - 6/1905 8 months -3.87 in 12/1904
10/1908 - 3/1909 6 months -5.30 in 12/1908
9/1909 - 12/1909 4 months -4.09 in 12/1909
3/1910 - 12/1910 10 months -4.18 in 8/1910
5/1911 - 7/1911 3 months -4.22 in 7/1911
4/1915 - 5/1915 2 months -3.33 in 4/1915
8/1922 - 11/1923 16 months -5.49 in 12/1922
8/1925 - 9/1925 2 months -3.88 in 9/1925
7/1930 - 8/1931 14 months -7.34 in 1/1931
5/1932 - 2/1933 10 months -4.36 in 9/1932
5/1934 - 7/1934 3 months -3.94 in 7/1934
11/1939 - 1/1940 3 months -3.91 in 1/1940
10/1953 - 7/1954 10 months -5.13 in 12/1953
9/1963 - 2/1964 6 months -4.18 in 12/1963
7/1965 - 9/1965 3 months -3.59 in 8/1965
7/1966 - 2/1967 8 months -3.63 in 1/1967
2/1969 - 6/1969 5 months -3.75 in 6/1969
8/1991 - 2/1992 7 months -4.14 in 11/1991

-- Northwest Plateau Climate Division --
Drought Periods Duration Lowest PDSI
6/1895 - 2/1896 9 months -5.17 in 11/1895
4/1896 - 6/1896 3 months -4.18 in 5/1896
8/1899 - 1/1900 6 months -4.24 in 11/1899
4/1900 - 6/1902 27 months -5.07 in 10/1900
10/1908 - 3/1909 6 months -5.52 in 12/1908
8/1909 - 12/1909 5 months -4.27 in 11/1909
3/1910 - 12/1910 10 months -4.17 in 8/1910
5/1911 - 7/1911 3 months -4.08 in 7/1911
6/1921 - 10/1921 5 months -3.69 in 7/1921
9/1922 - 11/1923 15 months -4.71 in 12/1922
8/1930 - 2/1933 31 months -6.97 in 2/1931
7/1933 - 6/1935 24 months -6.47 in 7/1934
9/1936 - 10/1936 2 months -3.38 in 9/1936
4/1941 - 6/1941 3 months -3.64 in 5/1941
11/1953 - 2/1954 4 months -3.98 in 12/1953
12/1960 - 1/1961 2 months -3.80 in 1/1961
10/1963 - 2/1964 5 months -3.89 in 10/1963
7/1991 - 3/1992 9 months -4.75 in 11/1991

Based on the monthly Palmer Drought Severity Index as computed by the National Climatic Data Center.
Period of record: January 1895 through March 2006