NEW YORK (WABC)– Most of the tri-state area, including New York City, is currently facing a severe drought, according to the drought monitor.

The severe drought area includes the city, the Hudson Valley, western Fairfield and Nassau counties, and all of northern New Jersey.

Extreme drought conditions exist in Ocean County and other areas of South Jersey.

Drought levels are measured by the lack of available water. A severe drought means there is a high risk of fire, potential water shortages and possible water restrictions.

New York City’s water system is of particular concern, as it typically hovers around 79% capacity this time of year. It is currently 62%.

A drought alert was issued in New York last week. Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to take shorter showers, fix leaky faucets and conserve water.

Just 0.01 inch (0.02 cm) of rain fell last month in Central Park, where October normally brings about 4.4 inches (11.2 cm) of precipitation, according to National Weather Service records.

Municipal Environmental Protection Department Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala said it was the driest October in over 150 years of records.

In New Jersey, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a drought warning earlier this week.

The New Jersey Wildfire Service says conditions in the state are the driest they have been in nearly 120 years.

State Geologist Steven Domber said water levels are falling across New Jersey.

“They are well below long-term averages and they are trending downward,” he said. “They will continue to drop over the next few weeks unless we get significant rainfall.”

He said about half of New Jersey’s public water systems are experiencing near-normal water demand, but 40% are experiencing higher demand than usual.

It could take 10 inches of rain to significantly improve conditions in New Jersey, officials said.

Extremely dry conditions fueled many bush fires in New York and New Jersey in recent weeks.

The largest wildfire continued to burn along the New York-New Jersey border. THE Jennings Creek wildfires consumed nearly 5,000 acres Thursday. A 18 year old volunteer firefighter lost his life this weekend when a tree fell on him while he was fighting the flames.

Drought conditions and significant bushfires could persist for weeks without significant rain, AccuWeather said.

The bushfire risk will reach high levels again on Friday as dry air, drying brush and gusty winds can quickly spread igniting flames.

New York and New Jersey have issued burning bans to reduce brush and wildfire risks. The ban prohibits the lighting of outdoor fires statewide for the purpose of brush and debris removal, campfires and open fires used for cooking.

Some tips for conserving water:
Take five-minute showers
Only run a load of laundry or dishes when it is full
Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
Install low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.

New Jersey The Department of Environmental Protection has further advice on its website..

Some information from Associated Press and AccuWeather

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