Wilmington has been dry for nearly three weeks

Delaware has been bone-dry for weeks, and the forecast doesn't offer much relief.

Wilmington and Georgetown had the driest September on record this year. The last measurable rain in Wilmington was three weeks ago, on Sept. 28, with only 0.04 inches. There was a trace of rain on Oct. 1 and 2.

Other than that, it's been dry. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the state is in a moderate drought. Each county has places experiencing a severe drought. Western Kent and Sussex counties are still "abnormally dry."

A large part of Sussex County, including Lewes and the beaches, is experiencing severe drought. These areas have gotten 5 inches below normal rainfall this year. Georgetown has received only 0.3 inches of rain since the beginning of September, said meteorologist Paul Martin of the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

Martin said a drought of this length in the fall is not as bad as it would be in the summer growing season. Right now, he said, the dry weather could even help with harvesting. However, Martin is concerned about how the drought will affect crop yields next year.

"We're going to see some reduced crop yields compared to normal, and it's just not ideal, especially going into the winter where reservoirs are getting pretty low," he said.

The record for the longest stretch without rain is 34 days in both Wilmington and Georgetown. Those records are in jeopardy, as the prospects for substantial rainfall are still minimal. Martin said outside of a slim chance for showers later next week, there is a "pretty decent chance" that this record could fall in early November.

According to a post on X from the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, the likelihood of a "wetting rain" is 5% through next week.

The drought elevates the fire danger in the region. In response to the drought, an outdoor burn ban remains in effect for the entire state until enough rain comes.

Shane Brennan covers New Castle County with a focus on Newark and surrounding communities. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com. Follow @shanebrennan36 on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest news and updates .

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington has been dry for nearly three weeks