New York City may soon set the record for its longest dry streak in 155 years
New York City has one of the longest sets of detailed weather records in the United States. An observation station has been continually active in Central Park since 1869, just four years after the end of the Civil War.
That historical depth makes any all-time records a noteworthy occurrence in New York City, and we could be nearing one of those milestones in the next week or two. The city may soon set a record for its longest dry streak ever observed.
Despite two major hurricanes making landfall in the southeast, it’s been an exceptionally dry few months over most of the United States. The latest update of the U.S. Drought Monitor tells the tale: 77 percent of the U.S. is abnormally dry or mired in some level of drought, including a large portion of the Mid-Atlantic states.
We haven’t seen measurable precipitation at New York’s Central Park since September 29th.
Every day since then has been dry as a bone—and the forecast doesn’t have much hope for measurable rain in the next five to seven days.
This is quickly turning into one of the city’s driest spells on record. The period from September 29 through October 21 made for 22 days without a drop of rain falling in the gauge. The ongoing dry spell will rapidly start ticking up this chart as the arid days wear on.
If current forecasts hold, we’re likely going to secure the #2 spot before Halloween. Toppling the all-time record of 36 consecutive dry days is a tall order.
Why so long without rain? Persistent ridges of high pressure building over the Northeast have deflected rainmaking systems to the north and south, preventing precipitation from ever reaching New York City. This familiar pattern will likely continue for at least the next seven days.
[Satellite: NOAA]
