Is Rain Finally Making Its Way Into the Northeastern U.S.?

It has been well over a month since the Northeast has seen a good soaking rainfall. The ongoing dry conditions have led to a host of problems, including an increased risk of wildfires and lower water levels on area streams and reservoirs. Is rain on the way for this corner of the nation? Read on for all of the details.

Northeast Experiencing Record-Breaking Dry Conditions

The Northeast has seen an exceptionally warm and dry fall. While the weather has been ideal for outdoor activities and yard work, it is also starting to create a number of issues. Serious drought conditions have been building across the region as the days without measurable rainfall continue to add up.

The dry vegetation has combined with the fallen leaves, unseasonably warm temperatures, and windy conditions to elevate the threat of fires. Numerous brush fires have broken out across the Northeast in recent weeks.

How dry has it been? The current streak of dry days has been the most severe on record since records have been kept. For instance, Trenton, New Jersey is now at its all-time record of over 38 consecutive days with no rain. These records date back to 1865, speaking to the rarity of this pattern.

Tourists in New York City have not encountered any major weather issues over the last several weeks. Only 0.01 of an inch of rain has fallen across the Big Apple since the end of September.

It has been a similar situation in Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love has not picked up any measurable precipitation during this same time period. The lack of moisture has caused vegetation to transform to dry tinder and sent water levels in streams and rivers plummeting.

For example, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is warning that reservoir levels throughout the bulk of the state are now at only 60% of capacity. An average year would see enough rain to put reservoir levels at full capacity during the rainy spring season before they slip during the summer and fall. These water levels typically increase again during the winter months thanks to snow runoff and lower demands by consumers. However, water levels are so low this fall that officials are growing increasingly concerned that they will not be sufficiently replenished heading into next spring.

The saving grace is that water demands tend to drop significantly during the fall and winter months. Not only are consumers using less for landscape needs but agricultural demands are also much lower.

There have been a few instances of scattered rain over the last week in the Northeast but these events have been few and far between. While it has been rainy in the Midwest at times over the last few weeks, the Appalachians have squeezed out this moisture before it arrived to the Northeast. In addition, there has been little to no activity from the Atlantic to help to amplify the rainfall coming in from the coast.

Rain Finally in the Forecast by the End of the Weekend