State Drought Expands As Newark Sees Driest July Ever

NEW JERSEY — The state's drought expanded this week as the string of hot weather continued. The dry conditions persisted through last month, with one major New Jersey city receiving its lowest July rainfall total on record.

Only 0.55 inches of rain fell in Newark in July, breaking the old record of 0.84 inches set in 1932. Rainfall records at Newark Liberty International Airport go back to 1931, according to the National Weather Service.

New Jersey's rain totals for the past month — July 4 through Tuesday — fell short of the average measurements for that time of year, according to weather officials. Middlesex County fared the worst, with only 1.2 inches of rain — 75.5 percent less than the area's average of 4.9 inches during that span.

Much of North Jersey, along with Cape May County, recorded rainfall totals 51 to 75 percent below average.

Forecasters expect a heatwave in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to intensify Thursday, challenging temperature records that have stood since the 1920s, according to AccuWeather. A heat advisory for much of the state remains in effect until 8 p.m. Friday, with anticipated heat index values — how hot it feels — up to 104 degrees, the National Weather Service says.

Much of New Jersey has been "abnormally dry" in recent weeks, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, which partners with federal agencies. But the agency also expanded the state's area for "moderate drought" status — one level away from "severe drought" conditions.

The National Drought Mitigation Center updates its drought maps each Thursday. The most recent New Jersey map showed at least part of the following counties in a moderate drought: the majority of Hunterdon, Somerset, Mercer, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth and Hudson Counties, plus southeast Essex County.

Here's how that compared to July 28's map:

Find more detail here from the National Drought Mitigation Center.

"Abnormally dry" conditions typically stunt or delay crop growth, elevate fire danger, make lawns brown and gardens wilt early, and reduce surface-water levels, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. But moderate-drought conditions historically have the following impacts, according to the agency:

• irrigation use increases
• hay and grain yields become lower than normal
• honey production declines
• wildfires and ground fires increase
• stress on trees, landscaping and fish
• voluntary water conservation is requested, and reservoir and lake levels fall below normal capacity

Climate change increases the odds of worsening drought throughout much of the United States and the planet, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Warmer temperatures enhance evaporation, which reduces surface water and dries out vegetation and soils, according to the environmental nonprofit.

State officials asked residents and businesses July 26 to begin conserving water. The conditions didn't significantly affected drinking-water supplies statewide, and reservoir levels remained near longterm averages for that time of year, Gov. Phil Murphy's administration said in late July. Groundwater supplies also remained near normal, with the central and southern portions of the state tending to be drier, according to officials.

But persistently hot and dry conditions could adversely affect water supplies. So state officials requested that residents and businesses "take proactive steps to help moderate their use of water to help ensure ample supplies throughout the summer," according to a news release from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The environmental agency suggested taking the following steps:

Visit the NJDEP's website for more info on water conservation.