By David Matthau March 21, 2017 1:58 AM
We had a significant snow and rain storm across the Garden State last week, but the New Jersey Department of Environmental protection has not changed any of its drought warnings or watches in central and north Jersey — yet.
A drought warning remains in effect for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
However the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report for New Jersey shows 43 percent of the state (southern and coastal) is now classified as being drought-free, while only 6 percent of northern New Jersey is still listed as being in a “severe drought” situation.
The U.S. Drought Monitor report takes into account several hydrological indicators, including soil moisture and stream flow variability, while the DEP drought indicators strictly measure reservoir levels in New Jersey.
“This is definitely good news but we can’t get too excited because all it takes is a prolonged dry spell at the wrong time of year and we can quickly move back into drought conditions,” said Tony Broccoli, a professor of atmospheric sciences and chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University.
Read More: A new report finds much of New Jersey is drought-free | https://nj1015.com/a-new-report-finds-much-of-new-jersey-is-drought-free/?trackback=tsmclip