The U.S. Drought Monitor says New York’s unnaturally dry summer has eased in the eastern part of the state along the borders with the New England states. But nearly everything west of Syracuse and the entire Rochester area remain in either “severe” or “extreme” drought.
Despite some rain south of Rochester last week, the area of “extreme” drought has expanded from a belt running just south of the Thruway to a big blob on the map that extends into the Southern Tier counties.
The National Weather Service says New York didn’t benefit from Tropical Storm Hermine which eased the drought in the southeastern states. Low stream flows and dry soil led to expansion of the “extreme drought” rating across the Finger Lakes.
