‘Drought watch’ lifted across much of upstate New York

ALBANY — Drought risk conditions have moderated following an abnormally dry summer, state officials recently confirmed.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation late last week lifted most counties in New York from “drought watch” to “normal” as a result of higher rainfall and water levels within the last two months. DEC still advises conserving water when possible and repairing leaks.

Gov. Kathy Hochul directed DEC to place most of the state under the second-tier drought advisory label in August. DEC officials deemed some Hudson Valley areas at “very high risk” for wildfires.

“We were doing all right and then we started going below normal and it started impacting stuff,” said Ingrid Amberger, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany. “And the time of year matters, too, because water use is typically greater in the summer.”

Precipitation levels picked up as summer ended, especially following Hurricane Ian. The year started off normal and then became increasingly dry May through August. Upstate New York typically doesn’t receive heavy drought conditions, according to Amberger.

Albany County experienced its fourth driest July since 1874.

“So with everybody’s lawns turning brown, this was very much real,” Amberger said.

New York typically averages about 40 inches of precipitation per year statewide. Higher elevation areas such as the Catskills and Adirondacks often receive annual levels exceeding 50 inches.

Albany experienced its third wettest July ever last summer. At 27.21 inches, Albany’s rainiest summer on record was in 1871.

“It is always better when conditions return to more normal moisture levels because the extremes either way can be damaging to crops,” said Steve Ammerman, a spokesperson for the New York State Farm Bureau.

Dry spells can lead to pasture loss, stunted crop growth and increased water usage. With the growing season at an end, Ammerman doesn’t expect the recent rainfall to have much of an impact on local agriculture.

Indian Ladder Farms in New Scotland reported drought conditions slowing the growth of apples in August. Bowman Orchards in Rexford described its apples having a higher sugar concentration than last year.

At Rogers Family Orchards in Johnstown, dry spell conditions didn’t make much of an impact on his business, owner Todd Rogers said. He explained that the orchards’ clay soil helps retain moisture during dry spells.

Rogers believes he could’ve encountered major losses from heat-induced insect infestations had he not sprayed the grounds thoroughly with chemicals during the growing season. “I would’ve lost probably 80% of my crops,” Rogers said. “Not that I want to, but it’s just the way this particular weather is conducive to insects.”

Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Ulster counties still remain under “drought watch.”

Amberger expects more rain today. One to 3 inches of rain across the greater region is predicted. 

“There could be some locally higher amounts [of rain] within that if we get any thunderstorms with that,” Amberger said. “But we’re looking at a widespread soaking rainfall so that’ll be helpful for our downstate friends who still have drought conditions.”

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