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Drought has parched the Northeast United States for weeks, draining reservoirs, priming the landscape for damaging wildfires and pushing politicians to implement water-saving measures. More than 58% of the Northeast is in moderate drought or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In New York City, brush fires scorched portions of Prospect and Inwood Hill parks over the past week. Earlier this month, Mayor Eric Adams issued a drought watch, ordering city agencies to prepare water conservation plans. Here are the photos that tell the story of how this has played out for people in the Northeast.

Persons: Dave Robinson, Phil Murphy, Eric Adams Organizations: U.S . Drought Monitor, Gov, Wednesday Locations: United States, New Jersey, New, New York City, Prospect, Inwood Hill, Northeast

The Summary New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday. New Jersey’s governor issued a drought warning Wednesday and said the state could implement mandatory water restrictions if conditions worsen. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has responded to 537 blazes since early October, which have burned thousands of acres, Gov. Murphy urged residents to take the drought warning seriously and reduce water use voluntarily. The state’s last drought warning was in 2016, and it lasted more than half a year, LaTourette said.

Persons: Phil Murphy, Murphy, Tim Eustace, “ I’ve, ” Eustace, Ted Shaffrey, that’s, Mark McDonough, ” McDonough, ” Murphy, Dave Robinson, “ We’ve, we’ve, ” Robinson, Robinson, “ There’s, It’s, Shawn LaTourette, LaTourette, Greg McLaughlin, ” McLaughlin Organizations: The New, The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Gov, North, Water Supply Commission, New, Water, Oceanic, Regional Climate Center, D.C, U.S, NOAA, U.S . Drought, ”, . New, . New Jersey Department of Environmental, AP New Jersey, Forest Fire Service, York Parks Locations: . New, Jersey, The New Jersey, North Jersey, New Jersey, Ringwood, N.J, Passaic, Newark , New Jersey, Wilmington , Delaware, Norfolk , Virginia, Philadelphia, Washington, U.S, In New Jersey, “, Evesham, ., . New Jersey, New York, New York’s Orange County, York

☆ Wildfires burn in New York and New Jersey as red flag warnings are triggered across Northeast
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Minyvonne Burke | Minyvonne Burke Is A Senior Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Weather conditions triggered red flag warnings in the northeast part of the United States as firefighters in California continued to battle a large wildfire that has burned over 20,000 acres. Much of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are under a red flag warning Tuesday due to dry and windy conditions. New York State parks employee battles a wildfire in Greenwood Lake, N.Y., on Nov. 10. Kyle Mazza / Anadolu via Getty ImagesCrews in New Jersey and New York were continuing to battle a wildfire in Passaic and Orange counties. Another fire in Passaic County, New Jersey, the Cannonball 3 Wildfire, was fully contained on Sunday, the state's forest fire service said.

Persons: Kyle Mazza, New Jersey Forest Fire Service —, Dave Celino, Celino Organizations: National Weather Service, U.S . Drought, University of Nebraska, Getty, New, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, NBC Boston, of Conservation, Recreation, California Department of Forestry, Cal Fire Locations: United States, California, New York , New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode, Boston, In New Jersey, Lincoln . New York State, Greenwood Lake, N.Y, Anadolu, New Jersey, New York, Passaic, Orange, Passaic County , New Jersey, In Massachusetts, Ventura County

☆ Historic drought fuels blazes across northeast as wildfires burn on both coasts
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Firefighters from coast to coast are battling wildfires even as the country begins to prepare for the holiday season, with fires in New Jersey covering thousands of acres in tinderbox conditions created by a historic drought. It's inevitable that this fire is going to continue to burn up until it reaches our control line," New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly said at a news conference Sunday. In New York State the total is 60 wildfires covering 2,100 acres in the same timeframe. One blaze, the Hill Fire in Burlington County, has been burning since July 5, he said. There was some rain across the tri-state area Sunday night, but less than half an inch, the National Weather Service in Mount Holly said.

Persons: Dariel Vasquez, Bill Donnelly, “, ”, we’ve, Donnelly, Mount Holly Organizations: Fire Department, York Parks, Ramapo High School, New, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Jersey Forest Fire Service, . New, . New Jersey Department of Environmental, Cross, U.S . Drought, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, National Weather Service Locations: New Jersey, California, Ventura County, Ventura, Sterling Forest, New York's Orange County, Passaic County , New Jersey, New York, Jersey, Evesham, N.J, ., . New Jersey, Warwick , New York, Cliff, Greenwood, Greenwood Lake, New York State, Burlington County, Mount, Philadelphia

☆ Drought plagues majority of Northeast as dry, windy weather raises fire risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Several homes were evacuated as a wildfire spread through the Colliers Mills Wildfire Management Area in Ocean County, New Jersey. Lokman Vural Elibol/ | Anadolu | Getty ImagesDry and unseasonably warm conditions in the Northeast have plunged much of the region into drought, fueling wildfires in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. "To have such persistent periods of really intense drought conditions is not very common." The Drought Monitor's latest map, released Thursday, showed drought conditions expanding from Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York up into Massachusetts and Maine. Dry conditions have intensified in some states, with parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland now in "extreme" drought.

Persons: Lokman Vural, Benjamin Cook, Lamont, Brian Fuchs, " Fuchs, Fuchs, rainier Organizations: Colliers, Management, Anadolu, Getty, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Regional Climate Center, D.C, U.S . Drought Monitor, University of Nebraska, U.S, Drought Monitor Locations: Ocean County , New Jersey, New Jersey , Connecticut, Massachusetts, U.S, Philadelphia, Newark , New Jersey, Wilmington , Delaware, Norfolk , Virginia, Washington, Palisades , New York, Virginia , Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, New Jersey , Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Lincoln, New York , New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Great Lakes, Northeast

☆ Worst drought in decades develops after one of driest months in US history
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —One of the driest months in United States history is coming to a close after causing the worst drought in more than 20 years in parts of the East as temperatures soar well above average there. As of October 25, the average precipitation across the Lower 48 was less than an inch. Only five months in the 129 years of records have ended with less than an inch of average precipitation over the Lower 48. Flash drought happens when drought conditions increase quickly, rather than over a multi-month or yearly timeframe, according to NOAA. It’s the state’s worst drought level since 2002.

Persons: haven’t, hadn’t, hasn’t, Hurricane Helene, Milton Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, New, York, East, NOAA, Associated Press, New Jersey Forest Fire, National Interagency Fire Center Locations: United States, New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Central, Hurricane, Florida, Hurricane Milton, Tampa, Midwest, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Ohio, Essex County , New Jersey, Michigan , New Jersey, Massachusetts, West Coast

☆ California wildfire forecast: Season primed for action in the months to come
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s been a typical fire season in California so far based on overall statistics. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty ImagesTo have a fire like the Bridge Fire grow so rapidly without Santa Ana winds is “fairly significant and unusual,” Chavez remarked. In early June, abnormally dry conditions only existed in about 1% of California, according to the US Drought Monitor. Where peak fire danger could still be to comeFall marks a critical inflection point for fire season in California given typical weather conditions. Chavez is “always” concerned about what Santa Ana winds could unleash on the fire season in Southern California.

Persons: It’s, Tim Chavez, Chavez, Josh Edelson, ” Chavez, it’s what’s, Daniel Swain, Swain, ” Swain, Joshua Tree, “, David Swanson, ” Organizations: CNN, CAL FIRE, Getty, Santa Ana, University of California, US Drought Monitor, National Interagency Fire Center Locations: California, Northern California, San Diego, Santa Ana, Tehama County , California, AFP, Santa, Los Angeles, Southern California, Southern, Running Springs , California

☆ Tropical Storm Hone threatens Hawaii with fire and floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Atlantic hurricane season might be quiet for now, but the same can’t be said in the Pacific, where Tropical Storm Hone is threatening to deliver a weekend blow to Hawaii. A tropical storm watch has been raised for Hawaii’s Big Island with the storm on track to pass close to the state this weekend. The storm is forecast to pass about 150 miles south of the Big Island late Saturday into Sunday morning. CNN WeatherIn addition to potentially flooding rainfall, Hone will also deliver gusty winds this weekend, especially over the Big Island. The system will weaken as it approaches Hawaii, but whatever remains of it could take a swipe at the state late next week.

Persons: Storm Hone, Hone, they‘ll Organizations: CNN, Atlantic, East Pacific, Central Pacific, Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Big, National Weather Service, US Drought Monitor Locations: Hawaii, Central, Maui, Oahu, Honolulu, Hawaii’s

CNN —Two fast-growing fires are tearing across a southern New Mexico tribal reservation and converging on a village “like a pair of tongs,” prompting thousands of residents to evacuate, officials say. An estimated 5,000 residents were ordered to evacuate the village area due to the approaching South Fork Fire, New Mexico Forestry spokesperson George Ducker told CNN. A second blaze, the Salt Fire, is also burning on tribal land south of Ruidoso and has scorched 2,000 acres. The South Fork Fire has burned more than 5,000 acres and is zero percent contained, according to an overnight update from the New Mexico Forestry Division. Both fires are acting like “a pair of tongs, and Ruidoso is in the middle,” Ducker said.

Persons: George Ducker, Ducker, ” Ducker, Jesus Figueroa, Ruidoso, Rebecca Dennis, ” Dennis, Roswell –, Ruidoso –, ” PNM, CNN’s Melissa Alonso, Dave Alsup, Amanda Jackson, Robert Shackelford Organizations: CNN, New Mexico Forestry, Mescalero Apache, New, New Mexico Forestry Division, New Mexico State Police, Facebook, Apache Summit, Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State Fairgrounds, Storm, US Drought Monitor Locations: New Mexico, Ruidoso, Snow, Whitetail, Chihuahua, Lane, Summit, Los Angeles County, Northern California’s Sonoma County, Oklahoma, Sudderth, Roswell, lockstep, Lincoln County

☆ Florida weather: Heavy rain and ‘life-threatening flooding’ hits Miami area and other parts of South Florida
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Mary Gilbert | Christina Maxouris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Flood warnings are in effect Wednesday night for parts of Broward, Miami-Dade, Collier and Hendry counties through Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service, which warned “life-threatening flooding” was ongoing. “Many areas are inundated with water w/ stalled cars & more rainfall is on the way,” the weather service said Wednesday night. @Signia70/ XWhile the state is no stranger to drenching rain, heavy rain events are getting even heavier as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution. Double-digit rainfall totals are likely in parts of Florida by Friday, but a few areas in southwest Florida could approach 20 inches. An additional 3 to 6 inches of rainfall is expected to fall across Southeastern Florida, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale, through Friday.

Persons: Collier, Flood, “, Storms, I’ve, Kait Madrigal, Ron DeSantis, Lee, Joe Raedle, Marjory Stoneman, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, ” Trantalis, Jon Rizzo, ” Jon Rizzo Organizations: CNN, South Florida —, Dade, National Weather Service, Hollywood, Hobe, Florida Gov, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Collier County School, Fort Lauderdale Mayor, Miami International Airport, Hollywood International, National Hurricane Center, US Drought Monitor, Central, Central America Locations: South Florida, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Broward , Miami, Hendry, Hallandale Beach, Martin County, West Palm, Broward, Sarasota, Hallandale Beach , Florida, Broward County, Trantalis, Lauderdale’s, St Armands, Sarasota , Florida, Caribbean, Florida, Gulf Coast, Southeastern Florida, saturate, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico, East Coast, Key West , Florida, Gulf

☆ Great Lakes small businesses and ski areas pivot following a record warm winter
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Whitney Wild | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

All told, eight states experienced a record-warm season, including Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Minnesota, plus North Dakota, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire. Instead of a winter wonderland, the past several months have offered tourists less snow, less ice aind less opportunity for some outdoor activities. According to the BEA, snow activities in states clustered around the Great Lakes add hundreds of millions of dollars to the region’s economy. For example, Wisconsin snow activities added $83.6 million in 2022, according to the BEA, and roughly $130 million in Michigan the same year. “The identity of the UP and especially Marquette is very much tied to the winter season and always has been.

Persons: Kelli, ”, –, “, Covid, I’ve, Tim Waltz, Susan Estler, ” Estler, Erin Hooley, Darlene Welch, Estler, Christopher Germain Christopher Germain, Germain, ” Germain Organizations: Chicago CNN, National Center for Environmental Information, US Drought Monitor, Small Business Administration, ”, Travel Marquette, CNN, BEA, Lake Superior Community Partnership Locations: Gwinn , Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin , Michigan, New York, Minnesota, North Dakota , Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Michigan , Minnesota, Marquette , Michigan, Lake Michigan, Montrose Harbor, Chicago, Alaska, “, Estler

☆ Climate Change Drove Drought in the Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Manuela Andreoni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Climate change fueled the remarkable 2023 drought that drained major rivers, fueled huge wildfires and threatened the livelihoods of millions of people in the Amazon rainforest, scientists said on Wednesday. Deforestation of the Amazon, the world’s largest and most biodiverse rainforest, has decreased rainfall and weakened the ability of trees and soil to retain moisture, researchers found. That made drought more acute and caused the forest to be less resilient to environmental destruction and events like wildfires. The Amazon River — the world’s largest by volume — and several of its tributaries reached their lowest levels in 120 years of record-keeping last year. A severe drought would have still occurred if humans hadn’t so profoundly changed the climate.

Organizations: U.S . Locations: U.S

☆ Water at Kealia pond in Hawaii has turned pink amid drought
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Angela Fritz | Abigail Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Water at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, one of the few coastal salt marshes on the island of Maui, has been bright pink since at least October 30, officials say, after its salt content surged amid an extreme drought. While Kealia literally means “salt encrustation,” the pond’s salinity has skyrocketed well beyond normal because of Maui’s extreme drought. The entire island is in severe or worse drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. The area where the Kealia Pond refuge is located is in what’s considered an extreme drought – the second-worst on the Drought Monitor’s scale. @Traviskeahi_photo/InstagramThe Waikapu Stream, which brings water from the West Maui Mountains down into the Kealia Pond, also flows through the area of extreme drought.

Persons: Kealia Organizations: CNN, Wildlife, University of Hawaii, Fish and Wildlife Service, US Drought Monitor Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Salt, what’s, West Maui, Maui County, Lahaina

☆ US fall weather: Temperatures are about to come crashing down with a dramatic pattern change
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A dramatic change is on the way as a robust cold front delivers the first hefty dose of fall weather by the weekend, sending temperatures tumbling by as much as 35 degrees. Temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal October levels will be common through Thursday across the Great Lakes and Northeast. Overnight low temperatures will also plummet behind these fronts. Low temperatures in the upper 30s to low 50s are likely across the north-central US and Midwest by Saturday morning, and in the Northeast by Sunday morning. Rain and storms to accompany frontsThe dramatic cooldown won’t be the only noticeable weather change this week.

Persons: haven’t Organizations: CNN, Cleveland, Midwest, Sunday, US Drought Monitor Locations: Gulf Coast . States, Louisiana, Midwest, Minnesota, Michigan, Lakes, New York, Minneapolis, Detroit, Philadelphia, New York City, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Gulf, Texas, Oklahoma

☆ When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Mira Rojanasakul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

When Will the Saltwater Wedge Reach New Orleans? Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city. Gulf of Mexico Lake Pontchartrain By Oct. 28, saltwater is expected to reach a major intake valve at Carrollton that serves most of the city.

Persons: Biden, Bernard, It’s, ”, Jeffrey Graschel, hydrologist, doesn’t, CONN, Matthew Roe, “ It’s, ” Mr, Graschel Organizations: New, Jefferson, Salvador Pointe à, Army Corps of Engineers, Copernicus, Midwest, U.S . Drought Monitor, National Weather Service, NEV, ALA, MISS, Oregon State University In, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, National Weather, Army Corps Locations: Orleans, Mississippi, New Orleans, Louisiana, Pontchartrain, Carrollton, Algiers, Salvador, la, Mexico Lake Pontchartrain, Salvador Pointe à la, Mexico, Gulf, Ohio, Slidell, La, Minnesota, MAINE, MINN, VT, N.H . IDAHO, S.D, N.Y, WIS, R.I, PA, IOWA, NEB . OHIO, UTAH, COLO . CALIF . VA, KAN . MO, KY, N.C, TENN, OKLA, ., MISS . TEXAS LA, FLA, NEV . UTAH, CONN, WYO, NEV . OHIO, Myrtle Grove, ”

☆ Mississippi River forecast: Grim outlook for rain and water levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Water levels on the Mississippi River are nearing historic lows for the second consecutive year, triggering a drinking water emergency in Louisiana as ocean water flows upstream, unimpeded by the river’s uncharacteristically weak flow. Lower Mississippi River water levels are forecast to continue to drop through at least mid-to-late October, according to Dedeaux. A confluence of extremesWater levels on the Mississippi River began to plummet in early September, well ahead of the October drop last year. This outlook from the Climate Prediction Center shows how drought is expected to improve in many areas along the Mississippi River which desperately need rain. Sixty percent of the water that flows into the lower Mississippi River comes from the Ohio River, while the other 40 percent comes from the upper Mississippi River, Dedeaux told CNN.

Persons: Katie Dedeaux, “ We’re, Dedeaux, It’s, Cullen Jones, Gerald Herbert, Alexis Highman Organizations: CNN, NOAA, Geological Survey, National Weather Service, Army Corps, New, Louisiana, US Drought Monitor, Forecast Center, Center Locations: Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Jackson , Mississippi, Memphis, Missouri, Lower Mississippi, New Orleans, Mississippi , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Nebraska , Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Iowa , Mississippi, El, Midwest

☆ Low water levels in Texas reveal dinosaur tracks dating back 110 million years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —As Texas baked in record-breaking heat this summer and a growing drought pushed water levels down, a group of volunteers uncovered something sort of magnificent: new giant dinosaur tracks that are believed to be from around 110 million years ago. Paul Baker, the retail manager at Dinosaur Valley State Park, told CNN he has “never seen this many dinosaur tracks” before. It is a hotspot for dinosaur enthusiasts and tourists who typically flock the now-dry Paluxy River to fish, swim and kayak. Paul BakerThe Paluxy River usually draws tourists for fishing, swimming and kayaking, but has been bone dry in this summer's growing drought. Baker was raised in Dinosaur Valley State Park – his father was a park manager for 30 years – and now operates several businesses, including the park’s gift shop.

Persons: Paul Baker, ”, Baker, I’d, it’s, ” Baker, “, dino, ” Kuban, –, ” Read, Mead Organizations: CNN, Dinosaur, US Drought Monitor, Glen Kuban, Society, Master Naturalists, North America — Locations: Texas, Dallas, Dinosaur, Kuban, Dinosaur Valley, North America, ”, Iraq

☆ Dried-up Texan river bed reveals perfectly-preserved tracks of 111-foot-long dinosaur
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Intense heat has caused new parts of the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas, to dry up, revealing the astonishing imprints. A view of the dried-up river Paluxy in Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. Three-toed tracks nearby larger ones in Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. A three-toed track inside a larger one in Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. AdvertisementAdvertisementA wooden ruler is roughly half the size of this dinosaur track in Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas.

Persons: Paul Baker, Glen, Paul Baker Baker, Glen Rose, Jeff Davis, Davis, It's, " Baker, Baker, Paul Baker It's Organizations: Service, Dinosaur, Facebook, US Drought Monitor, Dallas Morning News, BBC Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, Dinosaur, Glen Rose , Texas, Dinosaur Valley, Glen Rose

☆ A sunken World War 1-era wooden ship potentially the size of a football field was discovered in a Texas river by a man on a jet ski after severe drought revealed the wreckage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The wreckage turned out to belong to a large, wooden ship built during World War 1. The Texas Historical Commission said more than two dozen of these sunken ships are in Texas rivers. Milner sent photos of his find to the local Ice House Museum, which then contacted the Texas Historical Commission. AdvertisementAdvertisementTexas Historical Commission sonar data from 2019 showing the submerged hulls of two of the abandoned World War I vessels in the Neches River. The Texas Historical Commission said in a statement on Facebook that "the summer heatwave and low rainfall" revealed the hidden shipwreck.

Persons: Bill Milner, Milner, Sabine Rivers, Amy Borgens, Sabine, Borgens, Susan Kilcrease, Kilcrease Organizations: Texas Historical Commission, Service, Ice House Museum, The, The Texas Historical Commission, US Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, Facebook, Ice, US Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Corporation, Texas Standard, . Texas Historical Commission, US Drought Monitor Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, The Texas, Sabine, Beaumont , Texas, . Texas, Beaumont

☆ California Is Free of Extreme Drought Conditions for the First Time in 3 Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nikita Richardson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In recent years, the prospect of heavy rains might have sounded good to many people living in California, where drought and wildfires have been the main worries. That was not the case on this weekend, as Hurricane Hilary moved north from the coast of Baja California in Mexico and threatened to dump six to 10 inches of rain on the region. After three of the driest years in California history, much of the state is currently free of drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Storms fueled by “atmospheric rivers” this winter led to flooding and destruction across the state, but they also relieved severe drought conditions across wide swaths of the state, including Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, both of which were in Hilary’s path. Heavy winter rain, as well as record amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, also has filled many of the state’s reservoirs well above historical averages, according to California Water Watch, a daily tracker maintained by the California Department of Water Resources.

Persons: Hilary Organizations: U.S . Drought, Los, San, San Diego Counties, California Water Watch, California Department of Water Resources Locations: California, Baja California, Mexico, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sierra Nevada

☆ Earth, wind and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Earth, wind and fire The wildfire that ripped through Lahaina last week, reducing what had once been the jewel of the historic Hawaiian kingdom to rubble, was decades in the making, scientists say. Illustration of smoke rising above mountains How wind spreads fire As wind cascades over mountains, sinking air compresses, heats up and loses moisture. Over Aug. 7 to 9, gale-force wind gusts reached 67 miles per hour (108 kilometres per hour) in Maui County, according to the National Weather Service. Hot and dry air, colored in orange, moves over Hawaii throughout the timelapse. Today, over 90% of Hawaii’s native dry forests have disappeared, and non-native grasses cover roughly a quarter of the state, according to scientists.

Persons: didn’t, ”, Abby Frazier, Dora —, John Bravender, Dora, Hurricane Dora, “ Dora, Bravender, climatologist Frazier, Thomas Smith, Jennifer Balch, Mike Opgenorth, ” Smith, Matthew A, Foster, Handout Organizations: U.S . Drought Monitor, Clark University, National Weather Service, National Oceanic, Pacific Hurricane Center, North Pacific, London School of Economics, Political, University of Colorado Boulder, Pacific Fire Exchange, University of Hawaii, U.S . Army National Guard, Staff Locations: Lahaina, Lahaina —, West Maui, Lahaina simmered, Maui, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Maui County, Honolulu, Canada, India, South America, Caribbean, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S

☆ Hurricane Hilary expected to strengthen to Category 4 before weakening, dumping rain over California and Southwest US this weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hurricane Hilary is expected to intensify into a lashing Category 4 storm as it nears Mexico’s Baja Peninsula on Friday and then weaken over the weekend, bringing rain and flooding to parts of the Southwest US. The storm strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane Thursday evening and is likely to build into a powerful Category 4 on Friday, the advisory said. Southern swaths of California and Nevada could see 3 to 5 inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 10 inches. Smaller amounts of 1 to 3 inches are expected across central parts of those states as well as across western Arizona and southwest Utah. Parched Southwest may see brief reliefAs the rainfall passes through the Southwest, it may help combat prolonged drought and recharge depleted groundwater.

Persons: Hilary, “, ” Daniel Swain Organizations: CNN, Southwest, National Hurricane Center, Southwestern, National Weather Service, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, US Drought Monitor, University of California Locations: Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Baja California Sur, California, Southwestern United States, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, San Diego, Los Angeles, New Mexico, Valley , California, Death, floodwater

☆ Hurricane Hilary rapidly intensifying, could bring significant flooding to Southern California, Southwest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hurricane Hilary is rapidly intensifying in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Thursday and is on track to deliver potentially significant rain and flooding to parts of the Southwest as a weaker system starting this weekend. One of those places is Death Valley, California, the hottest place on Earth. The combination of rainfall and increased cloud cover across the Southwest is expected to bring a significant cooldown over the weekend. The most recent was an unnamed tropical storm in 1939, NOAA records show. 1997’s Nora was the last and only other tropical storm to maintain its status after crossing into California.

Persons: Hilary, Daniel Swain, San Diego Hurricane, —, Nora Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, University of California, US Drought Monitor, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, San Diego Locations: Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Peninsula, California, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Central California, Los Angeles, Death Valley , California, Death, floodwater, New Mexico, Phoenix

☆ Live updates: Maui wildfires death toll rises, Lahaina 80% destroyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Aditi Sangal | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Tiffany Kidder Winn via APThe wind-whipped fires in Maui spread swiftly and created a deadly tinderbox, overwhelming residents and local officials in one of the nation’s deadliest wildfires. Fueled by a combination of strong winds and dry conditions – and complicated by the island’s geography – the fires have killed at least 36 people. Severe level drought conditions in Maui County ticked up to 16% from 5% last week, while statewide moderate drought levels jumped to 14% from 6%. Dried-out land and vegetation can fuel wildfires, which can swiftly turn deadly if strong winds help fan the flames toward communities. These winds coupled with low humidity levels produced "dangerous fire weather conditions” through Wednesday afternoon, the weather service said.

Persons: Tiffany Kidder Winn, ” Jennifer Marlon, Dora wasn't, Clay Trauernicht, –, ” Trauernicht, Trauernicht Organizations: Yale School of, CNN, US Drought, National Weather Service, University of Hawaii, of Forestry, Wildlife Locations: Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, County, Manoa . Hawaii, West Maui

Map: See Where the Hawaii Wildfires Spread in MauiKaanapali Hawaii Area of detail Approximate area of fires detected through Thursday MAUI Lahaina Launiupoko Hawaii Kaanapali Area of detail Lahaina MAUI Approximate area of fires detected through Thursday Launiupoko Source: New York Times analysis of NASA Fire Information for Resource Management System data Note: Darker areas indicate a higher confidence of fire activity. Wind-fueled wildfires that tore through the island of Maui in Hawaii on Tuesday and Wednesday have claimed at least 36 lives, forced the evacuation of thousands and decimated Lahaina, a historic tourist town. June 25 Aug. 9 Maxar TechnologiesTourists flock to Hawaii in large part for its tropical landscape and lush forests, but the state has also become increasingly vulnerable to wildfires. The area burned annually by wildfires in Hawaii has quadrupled in recent decades. Invasive grasses that are highly flammable have taken over native vegetation in some areas, and climate change has exacerbated dry and hot conditions that have allowed many wildfires to spread more quickly.

Organizations: New York Times, NASA, Resource Management, Maxar Technologies, U.S . Drought Locations: Hawaii, Maui Kaanapali Hawaii, Lahaina Launiupoko Hawaii Kaanapali, Lahaina MAUI, Maui, Lahaina, Maui County

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