New York Counties Upgraded to Drought Warning Status

By Blake Jackson

Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), announced that ten counties in the Great Lakes region have been upgraded from a drought watch to a drought warning. Residents, including those relying on private wells, are urged to conserve water as dry conditions persist.

“Less than a week after I implemented a statewide burn ban, the drought conditions, even after this week's rains, are not getting much better and we’re forced to add more counties to the drought warning category,” Governor Hochul said. “It’s important that we keep taking proactive steps to keep communities and farmers safe. Once again, we urge everyone in the state to do what they can to conserve water while this dry weather continues.”

A drought watch or warning currently covers nearly all of New York, excluding New York City and Westchester County. The warning serves as a notice of potential severe drought conditions, prompting voluntary conservation efforts.

The counties now under the drought warning include Allegany, Cattaraugus, northern Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Jefferson, northern Herkimer, Lewis, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Wayne.

DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “We encourage everyone to do their part to conserve water while we face these drier than normal conditions. The small amount of rain we received recently is not enough to overcome larger water deficits in many areas.”

The National Weather Service predicts minimal relief despite rain forecasts. Streamflows and groundwater levels continue to decline, with precipitation deficits between two and eight inches statewide.

To reduce the impact, DEC encourages water conservation fix leaks, limit outdoor watering, and use collected rainwater for plants. The state’s Drought Management Task Force continues to monitor and coordinate response efforts.

A statewide burn ban remains in effect through October 15 to mitigate fire risks. Residents can find drought updates, fire danger maps, and water conservation resources on the DEC website.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zms