Most people associate heat waves and long stretches of dry weather in the summer with drought, but for communities in the Finger Lakes and Western New York — it’s taking on a different look as winter approaches. The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday, December 7 shows ‘abnormally dry’ conditions across the entirety of the region with worsening conditions lurking to the west.
Cayuga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tompkins, Wayne, and Yates counties are all experiencing what officials designate ‘D0’ or abnormally dry conditions.
Drought by the Numbers
For a small sliver of Ontario County, and all of Livingston County things are worsening. Approximately 5.7% of Ontario County is designated D1 or experiencing Moderate Drought. Meanwhile, in Livingston County — 97% is experiencing this classification — as nearly 30% is labeled D2 or Severe Drought. This represents no change over the last two weeks, but represents a near-doubling of territory experiencing Severe Drought.
Three months ago no portion of Livingston County was in Severe Drought. There are two classifications that run higher than this, though. Extreme Drought and Exceptional Drought — the rarest of classifications used by the Monitor — have not been tapped.
The last time Livingston reached ‘Extreme Drought’ designation was in September 2016 when coverage peaked at 100%. This extreme designation lasted from mid-August through early-October that year. By mid-December Drought levels subsided. For 2023, Livingston County has been dealing with drought conditions since June. Neighboring Wyoming County has been dealing with near-mirrored conditions this year; and experienced a similar stretch in 2016-17.
The line between Abnormally Dry and Moderate Drought stretches from the eastern portion of Monroe County and extends south through Livingston and a slice of Ontario counties. It clips small portions of northern Steuben and Allegany counties.
Water Crisis in Bethany
Little…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply