NYC drought warning expected soon: What it could mean for New Yorkers
NEW YORK (PIX11) – The historic stretch of dry weather in New York City has put the area under a drought watch, but how long until it becomes a drought warning? It might be sooner than you think.
Mayor Eric Adams issued the drought watch on Nov. 2, the first of four levels of water conservation declarations in the state. A drought warning will be issued if weather and water conditions do not improve.
A New York City Department of Environmental Protection representative told PIX11 News on Tuesday they expect it will be weeks – not months – until the situation escalates to a drought warning.
Despite the rain on Sunday evening, scientists and weather experts say it wasn’t enough to resolve New York City's drought watch. The city needs significant and prolonged rain across the Hudson Valley and Catskills, where the water supply reservoirs are located.
If the water supply in the reservoirs drops below a certain amount, it could trigger a drought warning. New York City residents would continue voluntary water conservation, and city agencies would implement additional actions and drought protocols.
There are significant health risks, especially for people with pre-existing conditions, under a drought warning or emergency.
The last time New York City entered a drought warning was in 2002, when the reservoir levels fell to 41 percent on Jan. 27. Later, a drought emergency was issued when the reservoir levels only rose to 57 percent by April 1, according to the city DEP.
The 2002 drought officially ended in January 2003 when the reservoir levels returned to 90 percent. As of Nov. 12, 2024, the city’s reservoir levels were around 62 percent. Typically, the levels are at 79 percent for this time of year, according to the city DEP.
While there’s no significant rainfall projected in the weather forecast, residents can do their part to help preserve water. To learn more about water preservation tips, click here.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.