New Jersey has had no significant rainfall since more than five inches of precipitation inundated a portion of the northeast sector of the State nearly three weeks ago. Some areas have received 25 percent or less of expected summer rainfall. As a result, precipitation indicators have dropped to the severely dry category in the state's central, coastal north and coastal south regions.
Stream flow levels also declined to the severely dry category in the coastal north region. Only in the coastal south region are stream flows moderately dry. Hot, dry weather continues to stress shallow groundwater and is beginning to impact some private wells.
"It's a matter of the state's faucet being turned off at the same time we've had little relief from the heat,'' said Steve Doughty, research scientist in the DEP's Division of Water Resources Management. "So, every gallon of water we can save now will extend our supply in case a return to normal weather conditions occurs later than we hope.''
According to State Climatologist David Robinson of Rutgers University, New Jersey is experiencing its warmest summer (June-August) on record since weather data has been kept starting in 1895. This followed the warmest spring on record. Every month since March has ranked in the top 10 of all time for heat, with August ranked 10th, July ranked 2nd and June as the first hottest month in the past 105 years.
At the same time, below average rainfall has accompanied the heat. The preliminary average for summer precipitation stands at 8.35 inches statewide, making it the 10th driest summer of all time and the driest summer since 1966.
Average statewide rainfall in August was just 2.42 inches, or 2.14 inches below normal, making it the 15th driest August on record. But rainfall levels have varied dramatically across the state. More than 8 inches fell this summer at the Charlotteburg reservoir in northern Passaic County while less than one-half inch of rain fell on most of Burlington County.
area got 4-5 inches of rain
