Drought in New York, October 1 to 31, 2002

The wet pattern continued during October with well above normal rainfall. With the exception of July, near normal to above normal precipitation occurred in 7 of the past 8 months (March through October). This wetter trend followed a stretch of 8 consecutive months of below normal precipitation (July 2001 through February 2002). This nearly signals an end to the hydrologic drought that has gripped the region since late summer 2001.The Brookhaven Hydrologic Service Area (HSA) received an average of 5.54 inches of rain during October, which was 154 percent of normal. The five boroughs of New York City received an average of over 7 inches, which was greater than 200 percent of normal. Significant rainfall was attributed to the remnants of Tropical Storm Kyle, which produced 2 to 4 inches of rain on the 11th and 12th, and from a Nor'Easter on the 16th that produced an additional 2 inches of rain.The combined storage in the New York City reservoir system on October 31st was 68.6 percent capacity, which was only 0.5 percent below normal. Capacities in the individual reservoirs on October 31st were: Croton System 76.9% (Percent capacity)Roundout Reservoir 89.6%Ashokan Reservoir 75.3%Schoharie Reservoir 79.6%Cannonsville Reservoir 48.1%Pepcaton Reservoir 63.2%Neversink Reservoir 66.6%The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation extended the Drought Warning for Long Island, New York City, Rockland and Westchester Counties through October 31st. The Drought Watch for Orange and Putnam Counties was also extended through October 31st.