The Northeast of the United States will almost certainly never experience the scale of wildfires seen in Western states. But experts say the region should prepare for more periodic droughts, which will increase the risk of fires.
New Jersey and southern New York, including New York City, are under drought alert, the last step before mandatory water restrictions are implemented. The last time New York City officials worried about drought was over 20 years ago.
The last significant precipitation in the region was over 90 days ago. Since October 1, New York City has received about a quarter of an inch of rain. The city’s reservoirs, which would normally be close to 80% capacity at this time of year, have fallen to about 60%. In central New Jersey, a reservoir serving more than a million residents is more than half empty.
Currently, more than two-thirds of the United States is facing abnormally dry conditions, and about 40% of the country — more than 149 million acres — is in a state of drought, according to the national Drought Monitor.
Experts say that as humans continue to add greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere, temperatures will continue to rise, leading to extreme weather events like droughts, wildfires, and floods.
Wildfires in the Northeast
Since early October, dry conditions have sparked about 860 wildfires in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, burning thousands of acres and resulting in the deaths of two emergency workers. The two largest fires this summer and fall occurred in New Jersey, the fastest-warming state in the Northeast and one facing the most extreme drought conditions.
New York City has seen more than 270 wildfires just this month, the highest number in its history. The fires did not cause serious injuries or property damage. Still, it was startling for residents of a city not accustomed to wildfires to see Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan ablaze.
In New Jersey, the Forest Fire Service has responded to more than 530 fires since early October, more than 10 times the number from the same period last year.
Thus, residents of the Northeast, already familiar with heavy snowstorms, flooding, and wind gusts, should consider incorporating more drought and fire preparedness into their lives, experts say.
Source: The New York Times