National Climatic Data Center, 13 February 2003

In a February 6 press release (pdf copy), the Baltimore office of the U.S. Geological Service (Wendy McPherson) reported that:

Although January rainfall was below normal, water levels in streams and wells continued to be near normal across Maryland and Delaware.

To keep groundwater and streamflow at normal levels, several more months of normal to above normal precipitation are needed to get through next summer and avoid below normal or drought conditions.

A water-supply drought still existed in parts of Maryland and water restrictions were still in place because reservoir levels in the Baltimore area remained below the normal levels needed to meet the water-use demands for next summer.