Struck by a Dry Spell

The Northeast, the area spanning from Pennsylvania to Maine, is known for its dry conditions and moderate droughts. However, this autumn season, the region is suffering from an unusually severe drought. 

Philadelphia, a city accustomed to seeing an average of 3.47 inches of rain in October, ended the month with no measurable rainfall. For context, measurable rainfall has to be at least 0.01 inches of rain. The lack of rain mixed with high winds, which often reached up to 30 miles per hour, led to extremely dry conditions. The U.S. Drought Monitor officially classified Philadelphia as “Abnormally Dry.” These very rare conditions created a storm of challenges and concerns for Philadelphia.

Wildfires were one of them; the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a fire watch, warning, “Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly.” Many Philadelphia suburbs have implemented burn bans to comply, prohibiting any outdoor burning, such as bonfires, campfires, and fire pits. 

Luckily, the month of November offered relief to these conditions. November 10th marked the end of the record-breaking dry period, bringing Philadelphia 0.31 inches of rain. Unfortunately, the rainfall only offered temporary relief from the dry conditions. According to Alex Staarmann, a NWS meteorologist, the rainfall would be completely absorbed by the top layer of the soil and would mostly evaporate,due to how big Philadelphia's rainfall deficit has become. Further rainfall came late at night on November 20th. “Officially more rain fell in Philly between 11 p.m. and midnight than in the previous 64 days—combined,” stated an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer on the 21st. “It was the most measured on any calendar day in over three months,” it added. Still, the general lack of rainfall combined with continued high winds leaves Philadelphia under drought-like conditions.

While Philadelphia could endure its condition, neighboring states like New Jersey and New York were bombarded with wildfires. Since October 20th, New Jersey has amassed over 200 wildfires and counting, many of which simultaneously affected the state of New York. These flames burned up thousands of acres of land, one event engulfing 5,000 acres of land. 

These conditions also pose problems for agriculture. The added stress of dry land and land burning disrupts the ability of seeds to germinate. A generational farmer in New York confirmed this idea, stating, “Unfortunately, there are a lot of seeds that get sown in the fall, and without rain, they’re not going to germinate.” Farmers in the region worry about the livelihood of their crops and a decline in crops for the states in the Northeast region.

The dry and fiery conditions also pose significant health risks to people and animals in surrounding areas. Respiratory issues are a top concern. The proximity of fires created areas with poor air quality. The American Journal of Managed Care warns this leads to increasing risks of bronchitis, reduced lung function, and an increased risk of asthma. Cardiovascular issues could occur as well, including heart failure, heart attacks, and stroke. These effects also extend to livestock that live in the area, affecting potential sources of food in the future.

Multiple local governments and utility companies rushed to counteract these horrifying conditions. Water conservation was a main priority. Aqua, a water utility company that supplies water to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, asked its customers to conserve water voluntarily as a precaution to the droughts. Meanwhile, the Borough of Doylestown Water Department declared a Stage II Drought Warning, mandating mandatory restrictions on all nonessential water usage. 

Climate scientists echo the sentiment that the drought is just one example of how a changing climate is impacting the Northeast. As temperatures increase and intensify, could there be harsher conditions in the future?