Drought in New York, January 1 to 31, 2002

Dry mild weather continued for the fourth consecutive month across the region. The total average rainfall for January was 1.75 inches, or 50 percent of normal. Rainfall was below average for the last seven consecutive months, yielding an average deficit of 12.13 inches.The combined storage in the New York City water supply reservoir system at the end of the month was at 41.3 percent capacity, which was 40.1 percent below normal. Capacities in the individual reservoirs at the end of the month were:Croton System 77.5% (Percent capacity)Roundout Reservoir 87.5%Ashokan Reservoir 32.2%Schoharie Reservoir 20.8%Cannonsville Reservoir 14.9%Pepcaton Reservoir 33.3%Neversink Reservoir 33.7%The combined storage in the Upper Delaware River Basin at the Neversink, Pepcaton, and Cannonsville Reservoirs was 26.3 percent capacity (approximately 70 billion gallons). This was over 136 billion gallons below normal, or 66.3 percent below normal levels.Streamflows in southeast New York remained below normal throughout January. As a consequence of declining water levels, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYCDEC) declared a drought watch for the five boroughs of New York City and for Long Island on January 18th. A drought warning remained in effect for Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties in southeast New York.