Waterways and wells are running dry in parts of New England and trees in New York City are already shedding their leaves as a late-summer drought engulfs the U.S. Northeast, raising the risk of wildfires.
More than 80% of the region is now abnormally dry or in drought, according to a U.S. monitoring service, compared to just 11% this time last September. Some parts of the Northeast have gone weeks without significant rains – akin to conditions less than a year ago that led to a historic outbreak of brush fires that scorched New York City and nearby areas.
In New York state, environmental officials have urged consumers to voluntarily cut back on water use as streamflow plummets and groundwater levels dry up. Elevated wildfire risk has set in across New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, which is experiencing its first statewide drought since record-keeping began in 2000…