New York City has been without rain for over a month, and although there was some rainfall on the evening of November 10, the amount was not significant. Mayor Adams recently issued a “drought alert,” urging water conservation. If the drought situation does not improve, the alert may escalate to a “drought warning” in the next two weeks.
According to city officials, October marked the second-longest drought period for New York City since 1869. Mayor Adams issued the “drought alert” on November 2, requiring city agencies to prepare for water conservation efforts and urging the public to reduce shower time, refrain from watering lawns, and report any open fire hydrants immediately by dialing 311.
The lack of rain is not just affecting New York City but also the reservoir systems in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties in upstate New York which supply water to the city. Several reservoirs are currently at just 63.6% capacity, down from the usual 79% at this time of year.
Zach Iscol, the Director of the New York City Emergency Management Agency (NYCEM), mentioned that due to the forecast of continued drought in November and December, the “drought alert” may be upgraded to a “drought warning” in the next two weeks. He emphasized that extreme weather events might become the new normal, urging the public to be prepared.
Despite concerns, Richard Tinker, a drought expert from the National Weather Service (NWS), reassured the public that widespread water shortages are unlikely in the New York area, and extreme measures like water rationing are not anticipated. Upmanu Lall, the Director of the Water Center at Columbia University, also indicated that if the remaining winter months follow a typical pattern instead of a drought, the impact should be minimal.
The ongoing drought has sparked multiple wildfires in both New York and New Jersey, including fires in Prospect Park and South Brooklyn. Mayor Adams announced a ban on barbecuing in parks on November 9 as a precaution. With smoke from wildfires in upstate and New Jersey drifting into the city, New York City’s air quality index exceeded 100 on November 10, reaching the “orange alert” level. This poses a health threat to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic illnesses, who are advised to reduce outdoor activities, stay indoors as much as possible, use air purifiers, and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.