Current:Home > MyNew Jersey will issue a drought warning after driest October ever and as wildfires rage-LoTradeCoin
New Jersey will issue a drought warning after driest October ever and as wildfires rage
View Date:2024-12-23 17:01:48
BRICK, N.J. (AP) — With wildfires burning after its driest September and October ever, New Jersey will issue a drought warning, a step that could eventually lead to mandatory water restrictions if significant rain doesn’t fall soon.
The state Department of Environmental Protection held an online hearing Tuesday on the conditions. But they would not answer questions, including whether any part of the state is in danger of running out of drinking water or adequate water to fight fires, which are burning in nearly a half-dozen locations. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from the department after the meeting.
About an hour after it concluded, the department announced a press briefing for Wednesday “to discuss the state entering Drought Warning status as prolonged dry periods continue statewide.”
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service says conditions in the state are the driest they have been in nearly 120 years.
State geologist Steven Domber said water levels are declining across New Jersey.
“They are well below long-term averages, and they’re trending down,” he said. “They will continue to drop over the coming weeks unless we get significant rainfall.”
He said about half the public water systems in New Jersey are experiencing close to normal demand for water, but 40% are seeing higher demand than usual.
It could take 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain to meaningfully improve conditions in New Jersey, officials said. But forecasts don’t call for that.
The combination of higher than normal temperatures, severely diminished rainfall and strong demand for water is stressing water supplies, said David Robinson, the state climatologist. He said New Jersey received 0.02 inches (a half-millimeter) of rain in October, when 4.19 inches (10.64 cm) is normal.
So far in November, the state has gotten a quarter to a half-inch (1.27 cm) of rain. The statewide average for the month is 4 inches (10.16 cm).
Since August, the state received 2 inches (5.08 cm) of rain when it should have gotten a foot (0.3 meters), Robinson said.
“A bleak picture is only worsening,” he said.
The state was under a drought watch Tuesday morning, which includes restrictions on most outdoor fires and calls for voluntary conservation. The next step, which the state is considering, a drought warning, imposes additional requirements on water systems, and asks for even more voluntary water-saving actions. The final step would be declaration of a drought emergency, under which businesses and homes would face mandatory water restrictions.
Several leaders of public water systems urged New Jersey to go straight to a drought emergency. Tim Eustace, executive director of the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, said the Wanaque Reservoir is at about 45% of capacity.
“Using drinking water to water lawns is kind of crazy,” he said. “I would really like to move to a drought emergency so we can stop people from watering their lawns.”
New Jersey has been battling numerous wildfires in recent weeks, including at least five last week. The largest has burned nearly 5 1/2 square miles (14.24 square kilometers) on the New Jersey-New York border and led to the death of a New York parks worker. That fire was 20% contained as of Tuesday morning.
Conditions are also dry in New York, which issued a drought watch last week. Mayor Eric Adams mayor urged residents to take shorter showers, fix dripping faucets and otherwise conserve water.
Just 0.01 inches (0.02 cm) of rain fell last month on the city’s Central Park, where October normally brings about 4.4 inches (11.2 cm) of precipitation, National Weather Service records show. City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said it was the driest October in over 150 years of records.
Jeff Tober, manager of Rancocas Creek Farm in the bone-dry New Jersey Pinelands, said his farm has gotten 0.6 inches (1.52 cm) of rain in the last 87 days.
“It’s been pretty brutal,” he said.
___
Follow Wayne Parry on X: @WayneParryAC
veryGood! (23699)
Related
- Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
- Tennessee judge wants more information on copyright before ruling on school shooter’s writings
- NBA play-in tournament: 76ers snag No. 7 seed, Bulls KO Hawks behind Coby White's career night
- Takeaways from this week’s reports on the deadly 2023 Maui fire that destroyed Lahaina
- Bohannan requests a recount in Iowa’s close congressional race as GOP wins control of House
- 'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella diagnosed with 'aggressive' brain cancer
- Woman at risk of losing her arm after being attacked by dog her son rescued, brought home
- Independent country artist Tanner Adell on how appearing on Beyoncé's latest album is catapulting her career
- Dwayne Johnson Admits to Peeing in Bottles on Set After Behavior Controversy
- Proof Kourtney Kardashian's Vibe Right Now Is Just Living Life With Her Family
Ranking
- NBC's hospital sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' might heal you with laughter: Review
- Trump trial jury selection process follows a familiar pattern with an unpredictable outcome
- New Black congressional district in Louisiana bows to politics, not race, backers say
- Drug shortages at highest since 2014: Chemo drugs, Wegovy, ADHD medications affected
- Sydney Sweeney Slams Women Empowerment in the Industry as Being Fake
- Dr Pepper is bringing a new, limited-time coconut flavor to a store near you: What to know
- Google fires 28 workers after office sit-ins to protest cloud contract with Israel
- 5 years after fire ravaged Notre Dame, an American carpenter is helping rebuild Paris' iconic cathedral
Recommendation
-
Alexandra Daddario shares first postpartum photo of baby: 'Women's bodies are amazing'
-
Camila Mendes Keeps Her Evolving Style Flower-Fresh in Coach Outlet’s Latest Flower World Collection
-
Sweeping gun legislation awaits final votes as Maine lawmakers near adjournment
-
Alabama lawmakers reject bill to require release of police body camera video
-
Video shows masked man’s apparent attempt to kidnap child in NYC; suspect arrested
-
The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits holds steady as labor market remains strong
-
Sweeping gun legislation awaits final votes as Maine lawmakers near adjournment
-
Modern Family's Aubrey Anderson-Emmons Shares Why Being a Child Actor Wasn’t as Fun as You Think