Long Island is experiencing severe drought conditions, with only minimal rainfall recorded over the past several months. The last significant rain event occurred in August, when a storm delivered 9 inches of rain, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and homes.
According to the National Weather Service, the region is expected to receive approximately three-quarters of an inch of rain from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. However, experts caution that this may not be sufficient to alleviate the ongoing drought, which has led to significant brush fires and red flag warnings.
The only rainfall recorded in November prior to this forecast was 0.23 inches on November 10. September and October have been noted as the driest months on record for Long Island, raising concerns about the potential for November to follow suit if the anticipated rain does not materialize.
In response to the elevated wildfire risk, Governor Kathy Hochul has implemented a statewide burn ban effective until November 30. The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has established a Brush Fire Task Force in light of the unprecedented number of fires reported since November 1.
On November 18, temperatures are expected to dip, with highs in the mid-50s on Thursday. The fire risk persists, although conditions have improved compared to the previous weekend's strong winds.