Much Needed Rainfall Later In The Week

As the temperatures begin to warm up, so does the rain chances as we approach the weekend ahead. Rain will begin to move into the Delmarva region during the morning hours on Friday as a warm front lifts towards New England. Rain chances continue all the way through early Sunday morning when the cold front […]

As the temperatures begin to warm up, so does the rain chances as we approach the weekend ahead. Rain will begin to move into the Delmarva region during the morning hours on Friday as a warm front lifts towards New England. Rain chances continue all the way through early Sunday morning when the cold front swings through. But will this bring any relief to the drought situation here in the Mid-Atlantic?

Much of the Mid-Atlantic remains under ongoing drought conditions as of early January. Abnormally dry conditions continue across large portions of Maryland, Delaware, southern Pennsylvania, and northern Virginia, with moderate drought expanding across central and western Maryland into parts of northern Virginia. The most pronounced dryness is focused west of the Chesapeake Bay, including areas near Washington, Frederick, and Hagerstown, where prolonged precipitation deficits persist. While coastal sections of the Delmarva Peninsula remain primarily abnormally dry, limited improvement has occurred, and soil moisture remains below normal. These conditions continue to stress agriculture, water resources, and increase the risk of winter wildfire activity if dry weather persists.

Heavier rainfall potential this weekend is focused farther north and west, with higher totals indicated across parts of western and central Pennsylvania and into the higher terrain of western Maryland. Lighter precipitation amounts are expected south and east, including much of central and southern Virginia and portions of the Delmarva Peninsula, where totals look more modest. This setup suggests the best chance for more meaningful rainfall will be away from the coastal plain, while areas closer to the Chesapeake Bay and southward may see limited rainfall and little improvement to ongoing dry conditions.