The New York State DEC announced Wednesday that it has changed 21 counties statewide, including Chautauqua County, from a drought warning to a drought watch due to several weeks of consistent rainfall and improving levels of streamflow and ground water. The DEC says observed precipitation over the past 90 days has improved but remains less than normal across virtually the entire state. The National Weather Service’s near-term forecast suggests that normal or even slightly wet precipitation patterns can be expected over the next month.
Graphic by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation…