It hasn’t seriously rained for over a month……
In New York, the drought warning extends beyond the city and includes 10 counties encompassing much of the Hudson Valley. In New Jersey, where state officials declared a drought warning last week, the southern portion of the state is in the grip of an extreme drought and the rain deficit is about 10 inches below normal over the last three months. Statewide burn bans prohibiting campfires and burning trash or leaves are now in effect across a broad swath of the Northeast because of the increased fire risk. And red flag warnings indicating fire danger, which are common in the West, currently cover all of Massachusetts.
Although no mandatory restrictions are in place, states and cities are urging residents and businesses to voluntarily conserve water….
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While the forecast calls for rain Wednesday night, experts said it’s unlikely to ease the drought. Large parts of the region have experienced rainfall deficits of 8 to 10 inches over the past six months and would need more than one storm to undo such a long dry period. Rainfall totals of half an inch to 1½ inches are expected from eastern Pennsylvania to Maine, mostly falling between Wednesday night and Saturday. Some areas could receive more than 2 inches, with models showing the highest chances in southern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey.
The rain could provide some relief to areas where the dry spell has fueled wildfire outbreaks. In parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, thousands of acres have burned in recent weeks….
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