Northeast Wildfires Rage On
A historic drought is affecting the eastern U.S., from Virginia to New England. This drought has caused wildfires and red flag warnings for weeks. Experts say heavy rains may be needed to end the dry conditions.
Adam Douty, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, mentions that some areas may need up to 7 inches of rain to break the drought. Unfortunately, no significant rain is expected soon.
“There’s an old saying that droughts end in floods,” Douty told USA TODAY. He hopes that is not the case here. A continuous stretch of wet weather for two weeks or more would be ideal. However, cities like Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Trenton, New Jersey, are still facing long dry spells. Philadelphia recently set a record by going 42 days without significant rainfall.
New England is also facing severe drought conditions. Hartford, Connecticut, has received only 12% of its normal rainfall since September. In response, Governor Ned Lamont declared a Stage 2 Drought Advisory. Emergency burn bans are in effect across the state. Red flag warnings have been issued for Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Dry weather, new fires, and strong winds are increasing the fire danger. Residents should avoid driving on dry grass and follow burn bans.
The dry conditions have led to wildfires in parks in New York City. A high-pressure system is blocking rain and preventing storms from reaching the area. Douty explains that this drought is not related to El Niño, La Niña, or climate change. However, the dry spell could last for several more weeks.
A recent rainstorm brought only a light drizzle of 0.10 to 0.5 inches of rain. This helped reduce fire danger slightly but did not significantly affect the drought. The National Weather Service noted that this rainfall won’t make a big difference in ongoing drought conditions.
In a broader context, this severe drought comes amid other climate concerns. The year 2024 is expected to be the warmest on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Rising temperatures complicate the drought and wildfire situations, putting pressure on communities and firefighters.
Experts warn that the drought is far from over. Only a significant change in weather patterns or a heavy downpour can provide real relief.
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