Pennsylvania, 1999

Drought in Pennsylvania, September 1 to 30, 1999

September 1 to 30, 1999 · NWS PBZ · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

0 inches below normal, the state-imposed drought emergency for the area, in effect since July 20, was downgraded to a drought warning on September 30. However, the Palmer Drought Severity Index shows the entire Western Pennsylvania area continuing under a moderate to severe drought.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.

Although rainfall across Western Pennsylvania for September again averaged between 1.5 to 2.0 inches below normal, the state-imposed drought emergency for the area, in effect since July 20, was downgraded to a drought warning on September 30. However, the Palmer Drought Severity Index shows the entire Western Pennsylvania area continuing under a moderate to severe drought. Statewide, latest estimates show farmers have lost at least $700 million from the drought, with up to 50% of the year's crops destroyed.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Allegheny

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Allegheny forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.469, -79.981 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Armstrong

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Armstrong forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.812, -79.464 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Beaver

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Beaver forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.682, -80.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Butler

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Butler forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.912, -79.913 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Clarion

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Clarion forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.192, -79.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Fayette

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Fayette forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought, Forest

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Forest forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.513, -79.236 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Greene

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Greene forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
39.854, -80.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Indiana

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Indiana forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

Drought, Jefferson

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Jefferson forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.128, -78.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Lawrence

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.991, -80.334 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Mercer

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.302, -80.258 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Venango

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Venango forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
41.401, -79.758 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Washington

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates
40.189, -80.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Westmoreland

When
September 1, 12:00 AM EST to September 30, 11:59 PM EST
Where
Westmoreland forecast zone
Reported by
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Pennsylvania in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, September 1999

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5714858, 5714859, 5714860, 5714861, 5714862, 5714863, 5714864, 5714865, 5714866, 5714867, 5714868, 5714869, 5714870, 5714871, 5714872.