BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the latest update Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor Map shows that over 50 percent of New York state is experiencing either abnormally dry or minor drought conditions.
Nearly 268,000 New Yorkers are being impacted by these dry conditions with less than 1 percent of the state's population in a minor drought. The defined drought conditions located near Albany and in St. Lawrence County, but any area recently given the "abnormally dry" definition is being watched for drought conditions in the future.
The dry and drought conditions are limited to the eastern half of the state, including Long Island, Albany and North Country. However, with the hot and dry forecast coming up, Western New York could approach the "dry" category of the drought monitor. For that to happen, there would have to be a significant lack in short-term rainfall and water deficit enough to cause the slowing of planting or crop growth.
But even with the lack of rain in the forecast for Western New York, the Niagara River and Lake Erie watershed should protect much of Western New York in the meantime.
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