Drought

Customers in Lancaster were still urged to voluntarily conserve water as the Conestoga River remained low. The water bureau initially asked the public to conserve water on November 4. WGAL (Lancaster, Pa.), Dec 12, 2024

A 200-acre tree planting project was put on hold in Readington during the fall of 2024 due to drought. The state was asked to perform a prescribed burn to prepare a field for planting, but drought prevented it. The tree planting was expected to begin in spring 2025. TAPinto Flemington/Raritan (N.J.), Dec 12, 2024

The St. Clairsville reservoir will be dredged while the water level is low from drought. The city director of public service and safety expected that three to five feet of sediment could be removed from the north end of the reservoir, which would increase the storage capacity of the reservoir. Dredging should begin the week of December 16. WTOV9 FOX (Steubenville, Ohio), Dec 10, 2024

A fall tick drag in Suffolk County did not turn up any ticks. The near total absence of rainfall between late August and mid-November may have drastically reduced the East End tick population. The drought began when larval ticks emerged in August, and recent rain likely came too late to save them. East Hampton Star (N.Y.), Nov 27, 2024

The sale and use of fireworks classified as “skyrockets with sticks” or “missiles with fins” was prohibited by the Bexar County commissioners Court due to drought conditions. The ban on the two types of fireworks was in effect and will remain until March 10. KENS 5 (San Antonio, Texas), Dec 11, 2024

Dry conditions have allowed a few wildfires to spark in the western part of North Carolina. In McDowell County, a blaze burned 518 acres and was 75% contained, and a 730-acre wildfire was 92% contained in Gaston County. WNCN-TV NBC 17 (Raleigh, N.C.), Dec 9, 2024

The temporary ban on open flames and fireworks in New York City was lifted on Dec. 9, following recent rainfall, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Fire Department of the City of New York Commissioner Robert Tucker, and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. People may grill again, and any permit holder who previously requested to have fireworks displays or open flames can update their permit. New York City remained in a drought warning as upstate reservoirs were still low. CrownHeights.info (New York City), Dec 10, 2024 New York City Mayor Eric Adams banned grilling in the city’s parks after a two-alarm fire in Prospect Park on Nov. 8. New York City’s drought watch began on Nov. 2. PIX11 (New York City), Nov 12, 2024

November Firearm deer permit quotas were lowered 13% from 2023 in response to decreasing deer populations. The aim was to reduce the harvest this year because deer populations in the Cornhusker State have been decreasing in the past few years due to drought, harsh winters and increased permit quotas in 2019 and 2020. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (Lincoln, Neb.), Dec 4, 2024

The hops yield on a Rockingham County farm was about three bushels per acre, compared to the normal eight to nine bushels. The low hops yield led the brewer to order fresh whole cone hops from the West Coast to compensate for what they were not able to grow. WHSV (Harrisonburg, Va.), Nov 1, 2024

The very dry September in tandem with the usual seasonal decline in water levels were bringing Great Lakes' water levels down to lowest level in several years. Precipitation during September was less than half the normal amount for most of the Great Lakes' drainage basins. The level of Lake Superior plummeted over the last few months. MLive (Detroit, Mich.), Oct 16, 2024

Sugarbush Resort would have opened in November, but did not have enough snow. On Dec. 3, a blog post noted that the snowmaking ponds were low, leading to reduced snowmaking , which delayed the opening of the ski area. Snowmaking operations ceased on Dec. 6 as pond levels went below operating levels. The resort eventually opened on Wednesday, December 4 and had 22 trails open and one lift working. Sugarbush operators were praying for rain. Unofficial Networks (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Dec 9, 2024

Drought left the Brattleboro Ski Hill snowmaking pond with too little water to make snow. It was hoped that more rain would fall to refill the pond. Unofficial Networks (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Nov 5, 2024

All South Carolina counties were in incipient drought after a record-dry October, according to the S.C. Drought Response Committee on Nov. 6. The Sumter Item (S.C.), Nov 6, 2024

Drought in the U.S. slowed ranchers plans to rebuild their cattle herds, which led to higher cattle prices and caused financial losses for meat processors. In the latter part of 2024, Cargill opted to cut its labor force by 5%. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close a beef and pork plant in Emporia, Kansas and two plants in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Reuters (New York), Dec 2 and 4, 2024; Philly Voice (Philadelphia, Pa.), Dec 4, 2024

The Delaware River Basin Commission passed resolutions declaring a "water supply emergency" and issued two special permits to coordinate the operation of regional reservoirs, out-of-Basin water diversions and Delaware River flow objectives should "Basinwide drought" conditions be reached. Delaware River Basin Commission (Trenton, N.J.), Dec 5, 2024

With precipitation at an historic low over the last four months, the Cape Cod and Islands regions were categorized as being in a Level 1-Mild Drought. A Level 3-Critical Drought declaration remained in the Western, Connecticut River Valley, Southeast, Central and Northeast regions. Mass.gov (Boston), Dec 6, 2024 After extremely low precipitation over the past three months, most of Massachusetts entered Level 3 – Critical Drought on November 19. Only the Cape Cod and Islands Regions were in Level 0 – Normal condition. Over the past 30 days, less than an inch of rain has fallen, putting the deficit at 3 to 4.5 inches below average. Brooks and streambeds have gone dry, and groundwater levels were dropping rapidly in all regions. Two hundred cities and towns have temporarily restricted outdoor burning as fire activity has risen. Thirty-seven wildfires were actively burning in the state. Hundreds of blazes have sparked since Oct. 1 and burned more land than typically burns in an entire year. MassLive.com (Springfield, Mass.), Nov 19, 2024

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry closed on December 6 due to the low level of the Mississippi River. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is the only direct route between Missouri and Kentucky because the two states are not directly connected by a road or bridge. KFVS12 (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), Dec 6, 2024

Although Pennsylvania game officials thought that the drought would not affect hunting, a Westmoreland County processor has noticed a difference in the size and quality of antlers and the amount of quality meat that has been returned to archery hunters. Does have not had as much body fat. “They’re just not really yielding meat they would have in the past,” she said, blaming the dry weather for limited food supplies. A board member with the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League agreed that the deer were thinner than usual. TRIBLive (Tarentum, Pa.), Nov 30, 2024

A Level 6 drought alert was issued for Danvers after the town’s water supply fell very low. All outdoor water use was prohibited. An extreme drought alert was announced for the entire Ipswich River basin. The Salem News (Danvers, Mass.), Dec 4, 2024

Trout stocking has been delayed in Oklahoma due to drought and warm water temperatures. Trout fishing areas include Robbers Cave, Sunset Lake, Medicine Creek, Lake Watonga, Turtle Pond, and Blue River. KOKH FOX 25 (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Dec 4, 2024