The Northeast United States is grappling with an unusual November drought, significantly impacting millions of residents. As of November 24, 2024, southern New York has been under severe drought conditions for over a week, affecting more than 15.3 million residents. Nearly 9 million residents in New Jersey are also feeling the effects of this prolonged dry spell [aeedb10c].
Despite the first rainfall in weeks, the precipitation has proven insufficient to alleviate the dry conditions in both New York and New Jersey. Reports indicate low water levels in the Ashokan Reservoir, a critical source of fresh water for New York City, raising concerns about water supply as the drought persists [aeedb10c].
Firefighters in New York have been actively managing wildfires, with a notable voluntary evacuation on November 17, 2024, protecting over 160 homes near the New Jersey border. This proactive approach underscores the increasing risks associated with the ongoing dry conditions [3f885d02].
The New York City Fire Department has recorded an alarming surge in brush fires, responding to 271 incidents from November 1 to November 14, 2024, marking the highest two-week period for such fires in the city's history [3f885d02]. In addition to New York, New England has issued red flag alerts due to late fall fires, indicating ripe conditions for wildfires [3f885d02].
In a related situation, California is making strides in containing a wildfire in Ventura County, which has destroyed over 245 structures and is now 95% contained. The collaboration between local fire departments and community members is crucial in addressing the wildfire threat as conditions evolve in the Northeast [3f885d02].