New York City and its surrounding areas are experiencing a wetter week with significant storms in the forecast, but it will take a lot more rain to end the ongoing drought warning. Despite more precipitation in November, the city is still facing a deficit of over 7 inches of rain from August to October. December would need to bring 10 to 11 inches of rain to end the drought warning before the end of 2024.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized that the city is still far from being out of the woods, as Central Park and Prospect Park have already canceled their New Year’s Eve fireworks displays. The National Weather Service is predicting heavy rain on Wednesday, which could help alleviate the rainfall deficit.
The city’s reservoirs are currently at 60% capacity, with the normal level being over 80% at this time of year. New York City and most of the surrounding areas are under a drought warning, while Long Island is under a drought watch. New Jersey is also experiencing drought conditions.
Officials are urging New Yorkers to continue conserving water by avoiding unnecessary flushing of toilets, taking shorter showers, and fixing leaks. Installing water-saving fixtures and running dishwashers only when full are also recommended. The city is working to reopen access to the water supply in the Catskills and is monitoring the situation closely as they navigate through the drought warning.
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