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Central and Eastern Pennsylvania Drought Watches, Warnings Lifted

HARRISBURG (CBS) - State officials have lifted the drought watches and warnings that had been imposed over central and eastern parts of Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks Counties had been under a drought warning, while Delaware and Chester Counties had been under a less severe drought watch. But Michael Smith, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, says no longer:

"The eastern two-thirds of Pennsylvania experienced above normal rainfall in late September and early October because of the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole. That rainfall, as well as some other conditions, prompted DEP to lift the drought watch and warnings that had been in place for 46 counties."

Smith says the remnants of Nicole dropped two to seven inches of above average rain on the eastern two-thirds of the state. But the western part of Pennsylvania didn't get that rain, and 21 counties there will be under a drought watch.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio

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