Rainfall Expected in NYC, Insufficient to Resolve Drought

A forecast of nearly two inches of rain through Saturday is projected, yet city officials assert that this is insufficient to fully restore New York City’s reservoir levels.

Anticipated showers were expected to bring some relief on Wednesday night, breaking the prolonged absence of rain associated with the first drought warning declared in the city for over two decades.

Rainfall Predictions and Impact

According to the National Weather Service, about 2.2 inches are predicted to fall in the city, with slightly heavier precipitation in parts of New Jersey between Wednesday night and early Saturday. The peak of this precipitation is predicted to occur overnight into Thursday.

The precipitation is expected to slightly alleviate the uncommonly dry conditions prompting Mayor Eric Adams’s recent advisory urging water conservation, marking the penultimate step before mandatory drought emergency measures are introduced.

Current Reservoir Status and Long-term Outlook

City reservoirs currently stand at roughly 60% capacity, considerably below the average 79% for this time of year. Although beneficial, the incoming rain will not fully mitigate the deficiency.

The current drought is implicated in frequent wildfires across the region, marking some of the most serious drought circumstances witnessed in decades. Areas in southern New York State, including the city, have been grappling with a severe drought for about a week, whereas a significant portion of New Jersey has faced an extreme drought over the last two weeks.

Drought Severity Levels Explained

Per the National Integrated Drought Information System, 'severe drought' is acknowledged as the second level in a four-tier scale, with 'extreme drought' as the third. The most severe is classified as 'exceptional drought.'

Weather Conditions Anticipated

Moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated to continue into Thursday, tapering off slightly thereafter. Overnight, wind speeds could reach gusts of 30 miles per hour.

In a related weather update, the Northwest anticipates its initial snowfall of the season, with approximately 2.5 inches expected in West Milford, New Jersey, spanning Thursday to Saturday.