Most of the counties in the Times News coverage area remain under “normal” status, according to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Drought Task Force.

Lehigh County, however, remains in a drought warning, and Northampton County’s drought watch status has not changed.

The latest update from the force, which was issued in late August, reports that 55 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties are in normal status; nine are under drought watches and three are in drought warnings.

“Widespread rainfall has significantly improved surface water and precipitation departure drought indicators across south-central and southeastern Pennsylvania. However, groundwater levels remain slow to recover, which is the primary reason why several counties remain under watch and warning declarations,” according to the task force.

While thunderstorms are common during the summer, the water they deliver doesn’t necessarily replenish the water supply.

“Precipitation from fast moving, intense storms often runs off quickly into surface water rather than soaking into the ground to help groundwater levels recover,” the force noted.

Drought declarations are based on stream flow, groundwater levels, precipitation and soil moisture. Declarations are made after assessing how far conditions have deviated from normal over the past 3 to 12 months.

Other areas may also be experiencing localized drought issues. Residents are encouraged to voluntarily conserve nonessential water use.