Hochul: Long Island, upstate in drought watch; warning issued for NYC, Westchester County

The ongoing lack of rain statewide spurred Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday to declare a drought watch for Long Island and much of the upstate region, and a warning for New York City and Westchester County, the first two steps toward potential water restrictions.

A drought watch places no limits on water use. Under a drought warning, the state urges residents to reduce water usage and companies to update drought- preparedness plans.

The U.S. Drought Monitor has already said the region is in moderate drought status and western Nassau in severe drought status.

In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams said Monday in a news release that he would order city agencies to "immediately implement water saving measures."

The FDNY last week created its first Brush Fire Task Force, composed of fire marshals, fire inspectors and tactical drones, after the city experienced 271 fires since Nov. 1 — the most over a two-week period in its history.

The four levels of state drought advisories are watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. If Hochul were to eventually declare a drought emergency, it could lead to local and county water restrictions. In a drought disaster, the governor can order additional water restrictions and request federal disaster aid, according to the New York State Department of Conservation website.

In a news release Monday afternoon, Hochul said the "unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York, resulting in Hudson Valley and New York City area counties being elevated to drought warning status and a statewide drought watch."

Separately, the National Weather Service on Monday issued a special weather statement for Long Island, New York City, Westchester County and several upstate regions because of "elevated risk of fire spread," said a message on its website. Winds as high as 30 mph were forecast with humidity between 35 and 45%. 

On Tuesday, dry weather with sunny skies and a high of 57 degrees is forecast, with an evening low of 43 and winds diminishing to between 6 and 8 mph.

Then, some relief could be on the way after three months of severe dry weather, with rain in the Wednesday evening Long Island forecast and a chance of more precipitation through Friday.
The weather service said about three-quarters of an inch of rain is expected.

Temperatures Thursday and into the weekend will top out in the high 40s to low 50s and a 40% chance of showers. The low both Thursday and Friday evening will drop to about 39 degrees.

After Friday, dry conditions return, at least through Monday.

Whether the rain signals an end for brush fires and red flag warnings after some of Long Island's driest months on record remains a mystery, according to the experts.

"We'll have to wait to see if that's the start of something new, or if we're going to continue to be dry as we go until late November, until December," said Bill Goodman, a meteorologist with the weather service in Upton.

The only rain on Long Island this month — 0.23 inches — fell the evening of Nov. 10, Goodman said.

September and October were Long Island's driest months on record, forecasters said.

Of November, Goodman added: "The month may still end up being below normal rainfall wise, but I don't think it would be in any record territory."