The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, valid Tuesday, September 8, 2026, shows another meaningful round of drought improvement across portions of the Mid-Atlantic, including parts of Delmarva.
Scattered heavy rainfall was the main driver of this week’s changes. Locally 2 to 3 inches or more fell across portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, while some locations in central Pennsylvania received more than 5 inches. The Drought Monitor says the rain reduced precipitation deficits while improving streamflow and soil moisture across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
Delmarva sees significant improvement
The most notable change for Delmarva occurred in Delaware, where drought coverage dropped sharply.
Only 48.8% of Delaware is now experiencing Moderate Drought or worse, down substantially from recent weeks. Moderate Drought covers 38.0% of the state, while Severe Drought has been reduced to 10.8%. Another 45.7% remains Abnormally Dry. There is currently no Extreme or Exceptional Drought in Delaware…