ALBANY, NY (October 8, 2025) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that 10 additional counties in New York’s Great Lakes region have been upgraded from a drought watch to a drought warning, urging residents statewide to conserve water amid ongoing dry conditions.
The counties now under a drought warning include Allegany, Cattaraugus, northern Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Jefferson, northern Herkimer, Lewis, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Wayne. A drought watch or warning is in effect for the entire state, except for New York City and Westchester County, where drought conditions are determined locally in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
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“Less than a week after I implemented a statewide burn ban, the drought conditions, even after this week’s rains, are not getting much better, and we’re forced to add more counties to the drought warning category,” Hochul said. “It’s important that we keep taking proactive steps to keep communities and farmers safe. Once again, we urge everyone in the state to do what they can to conserve water while this dry weather continues.”
Despite recent rainfall on October 7 and 8, precipitation over the past 90 days remains below normal across nearly all of New York, with deficits ranging from two to eight inches. Stream flows and groundwater levels are declining in some areas, prompting heightened concern. The National Weather Service forecasts minimal likelihood of significant relief from the dry conditions in the near future.
“We encourage everyone to do their part to conserve water while we face these drier than normal conditions,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “The small amount of rain we received recently is not enough to overcome larger water deficits in many areas. Being more careful with water use now can prevent greater effects on our water resources.”
New York’s drought status is determined by a State Drought Index, which uses state-specific criteria and may differ from national assessments. Local conditions vary, and some areas may implement their own drought measures. The state’s Drought Management Task Force, comprising agencies like the DEC, New York State Office of Emergency Management, and Department of Agriculture and Markets, monitors conditions and coordinates with affected communities to reduce drought impacts.
Hochul’s administration has also implemented a statewide burn ban through October 15 due to increased fire risk, prohibiting uncontained outdoor fires, including campfires and brush burning. Backyard fire pits and contained cooking fires are permitted, provided they meet size restrictions. The DEC reports a “moderate” fire danger statewide, with fires capable of starting from most accidental causes.
Residents are encouraged to adopt water conservation practices, such as watering lawns only when necessary, using rain barrels, fixing leaks, and taking shorter showers. For farmers, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Disaster Education Network and the Department of Agriculture and Markets offer resources to monitor and manage on-farm water supplies. Private well owners are advised to contact registered contractors to address drought-related issues, such as deepening wells or adding storage tanks.
Drought conditions may also affect ecosystems, potentially contributing to Harmful Algae Blooms and impacting aquatic and terrestrial life due to reduced stream flows and precipitation. For more information on water conservation and drought updates, residents can visit the DEC’s Water Use & Conservation webpage or the Know Your NY Water website.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.