NOAA launches Mid-Atlantic drought early-warning planning effort

NOAA has launched a Mid-Atlantic drought early-warning planning effort with a kickoff meeting in Catonsville, Maryland.

The meeting, held April 9, 2026, marks the formal launch of the Mid-Atlantic Drought Early Warning System, according to NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System and Drought.gov. The new regional effort is meant to improve drought preparedness, coordination and information sharing.

The planned region includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. NOAA said the effort builds on drought impacts seen in 2024 and 2025, along with stakeholder listening sessions held over the past two years.

The launch comes as federal and regional partners continue to expand drought planning beyond emergency response and toward earlier detection and communication. NOAA’s Drought.gov pages describe the Mid-Atlantic DEWS as part of a broader network of drought early-warning systems across the country.

For now, the immediate step is the strategic planning process and launch meeting. NOAA has not yet published a detailed post-meeting summary in the material reviewed for this story.