A widening drought watch now covers most of the Finger Lakes and Central New York as dry weather persists into September.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week that 30 counties were added, bringing the total to 50 counties under a watch across the state. Newly affected counties in the region include Cayuga, Onondaga, Ontario, Seneca, Schuyler, Tompkins, Yates, and Oneida, along with others in the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and Hudson Valley.
A drought watch is the first of four advisory levels, followed by warning, emergency, and disaster. It carries no mandatory restrictions but serves as an early alert. State officials are urging residents, particularly those who rely on private wells, to conserve water where possible.
“Dry conditions experienced by many regions throughout the summer are continuing into September,” the state said in its announcement. “Experts are closely monitoring data and conditions on the ground to safeguard water supplies and recommend appropriate action.”
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said groundwater levels and stream flows across the affected regions are below normal. The agency, working with the U.S. Geological Survey, reported that rainfall over the last three months has been significantly less than average, raising concerns about short-term recovery.
For the Finger Lakes and Central New York, the watch coincides with a forecast of continued fair and dry weather through much of next week, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo. Little meaningful rainfall has fallen since midsummer, and warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected later this month.
Local water suppliers have been asked to assess their systems and promote voluntary conservation. Residents are advised to limit lawn watering, repair leaks, take shorter showers, and cut back on nonessential water use such as car washing.
State officials also urged caution with outdoor flames, noting the heightened fire risk under prolonged dry conditions.
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