Drought Across The Hudson Valley Is 'Severe' West Of The River

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Drought conditions are worsening in the Hudson Valley. Dutchess and Putnam counties are the hardest hit, but every county is parched, and there's no rain in sight, meteorologists say.

The newest U.S. Drought Monitor map, released Thursday, ranks most of Putnam and southeastern Dutchess in "severe drought," the rest of Dutchess and most of Orange in "moderate drought" and Rockland, Ulster and northern Westchester either experiencing drought conditions or "abnormally dry."

"Portions of the area have seen roughly 50% to 60% of the average rainfall over the past 3 months," said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather.

The drought affecting the Hudson Valley sweeps from southern New Jersey to northern Maine.

The dark orange "severe drought" means water shortages are common, restrictions may be imposed, and crop or pasture losses are likely.

In Putnam County, the town of Carmel issued a voluntary water restrictions alert for all 13 water districts on July 15. In Orange, officials have brought in a water tanker for Newburgh residents whose wells have run dry, News 12 reported.

In areas in light orange, streams, reservoirs, or wells are low and some water shortages are developing or imminent. Areas in yellow have some water deficits and plants, crops and pastures are affected.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has placed all but Westchester County under a drought watch. The DEC encourages homeowners to take steps to conserve water:

• Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers or air conditioners to water plants
• Raise lawn mower cutting heights. Longer grass is healthier with stronger roots and needs less water
• Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
• Fix leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets

The drought doesn't look to break soon, despite cloudy weather and a chance for some spotty showers.

"A weak disturbance will pass by to our south on Tuesday, likely missing the Hudson Valley," Hudson Valley Weather said in a post called Searching for Rain. "With an upper-level low pressure over the eastern US, the potential for rain showers will increase in the coming days… however we don’t see any guaranteed rainfall in the coming days."

Moreover, AccuWeather's long-range forecasters predict that warmer-than-normal conditions will eventually return, and persist, through much of September.

Here's the five-day forecast, based on Putnam County, from the National Weather Service:

• Monday - Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers this afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
• Monday night - Partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds around 5 mph, becoming northeast after midnight. Chance of rain 20 percent.
• Tuesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.
• Tuesday Night - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.
• Wednesday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon.
• Wednesday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows in the upper 50s.
• Thursday - Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
• Thursday Night - Mostly clear. Lows around 60.
• Friday - Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
• Friday Night - Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s.