[title]
New Yorkers spent much of the summer sweating it out under heat advisories and apparently, the clouds decided to take some PTO, too. Between June and August, the city collected just 8.7 inches of rain—36-percent below average—making it the driest summer since 1999, when straphangers were still clinking subway tokens instead of swiping MetroCards.
On paper, it doesn’t sound too dramatic; 1999 remains the record holder, clocking in at a parched 3.9 inches, but compared to the usual 14 inches that Gotham expects, this summer was bone-dry. If you were convinced otherwise by September’s freak flash floods, you’re not alone. Those torrents actually gave us the second-wettest hour in city history, but when you zoom out, short, intense storms don’t add up to a replenished summer.
So, are we officially in drought territory? The answer depends on where you stand. New York City’s six reservoirs are sitting comfortably, just 2-percent shy of capacity, which means the taps are safe for now. The Department of Environmental Protection has reassured residents that the city isn’t under a drought watch, so you don’t need to feel guilty about running the dishwasher tonight.
Upstate, however, is a different story. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 50 out of 62 counties, or about 80-percent of the state, are currently under a drought watch. That’s the earliest level of advisory, meant to signal “hey, let’s keep an eye on this” rather than “grab your buckets.” Still, it’s a reminder that when rainfall takes a vacation, the ripple effects can hit farms, energy production and even wildfire risk.
For now, New Yorkers outside the city are encouraged to conserve where they can: fix leaky faucets, take shorter showers, sweep instead of hosing down sidewalks. It’s less about panic and more about good habits, like not leaving your A/C running with the windows open.
And while meteorologists warn that the dryness could persist, there’s a silver lining: The Farmer’s Almanac is already calling for a wetter-than-usual winter. Whether that’s cozy snow or icy slush is anyone’s guess, but at least NYC’s reservoirs should stay topped up.
While this was the city’s driest summer since tokens rattled in change purses, you don’t need to worry—your morning coffee order isn’t in danger. Yet.