A combination of high temperatures and little rain has caused drought and wildfires to multiply in both New York and New Jersey this fall and prompted the city’s Mayor’s Office to raise the alert to a level 2 out of 3 overall. .
The New York Fire Department (FDNY) has responded to 271 wildfires between October 29 and November 12 across the city, the highest number in two weeks in the history of New York City, according to officials.
Last week, for example, the New York City Fire Department had to put out fires in wooded areas of Inwood Hill Park, (northern Manhattan), and Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.
Although the Jennings Creek wildfire, along the New Jersey-New York border, is the largest recorded in New York state in 16 years.
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As of Friday, the fire was 90% contained in Passaic County, New Jersey, along the border and about 70% contained in Orange County, New York. Smoke from the fire reached the skyscrapers of Manhattan.
In the fight against the fire, an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter named Dariel Vásquez died on November 8 while clearing a wooded area when a tree fell and hit him.
A historic drought
The epidemic in the northeastern United States is the worst for this time of year since 2016. The driest Octobers on record since then were in New York City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , and Bridgeport, Connecticut, since then, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center.
Although conditions in New Jersey are the driest in nearly 120 years, according to that state’s Forest Fire Service. New Jersey received half a millimeter of rain in October, when 4 inches is normal.
The Big Apple saw no rain fall on the first 29 days of October, and almost 0.02 cm of rain fell that day. Since then, New York has only seen light rain again, although the rain is expected to return later this week.
With the drought in New York City, you can help save water by following these simple tips: https://t.co/1eXd6C2xqf
Remember that there is a historic water shortage in the city. pic.twitter.com/Vhm4DHTv5u
— New York City (@nycgob) November 19, 2024
The longest period of consecutive days without rain recorded in Central Park is 36, recorded in the fall of 1924.
We must add the high temperatures this fall in the United States, which dries out the soil and vegetation, thus increasing the risk of forest fires throughout the Northeast.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the North American country had its second warmest October on record. New Jersey and Delaware recorded their warmest October ever.
Be careful when drinking water
The high temperature and lack of water has not translated into less water consumption, so the authorities have asked citizens to start taking drastic measures.
A drought crisis could force New York City to impose mandatory restrictions on water use, and so far the Big Apple has raised the alert to level 2 (of 3) – the first in more than 20 years to will it move to the warning level, previously to the emergency level.
Mayor Eric Adams asked New Yorkers this month to take shorter showers and fix leaky faucets and pipes. Yesterday, Monday, he ordered to stop cleaning streets with water, stop watering golf courses, stop washing thousands of city vehicles and subway stations, and close decorative fountains.
The Democrat went a step further to ban fires and announced a new ban on barbecues in city parks. New Jersey and Connecticut have endured these types of restrictions since October. This is currently the only order that is sent to citizens, who do not know drought in a city where water has never been scarce.
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2024-11-19 18:08:00
#Historic #heat #autumn #rain #drought
To implement bans on fires and barbecues in city parks during extreme weather conditions, I believe these measures are just a part of a larger strategy needed to address the risks associated with climate change. Community education on fire safety and responsible outdoor practices is equally important, as is the need for better enforcement of regulations to ensure compliance during high-risk periods.
Nded questions that encourage in-depth discussions and different perspectives.
Interview with Guest 1: Climate Expert
Moderator: Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today. Can you please introduce yourself?
Guest 1: Hi there, my name is Dr. Jennifer Stevens, and I am a climate expert at Columbia University.
Moderator: Thank you, Dr. Stevens, for joining us today. In light of the recent drought and subsequent wildfires in New York and New Jersey, what are your thoughts on the current state of climate change and what is your opinion on how it has contributed to these events?
Guest 1: Well, climate change is undeniably one of the major contributing factors to the recent drought and wildfires. The record-breaking warm weather in October and lack of precipitation across the Northeast are clear indicators of its impact. As temperatures rise, soils dry out, vegetation becomes more flammable, and the risk of forest fires increases. Unfortunately, this is becoming an increasingly common occurrence as the planet continues to warm.
Moderator: That’s an interesting perspective. Dr. Stevens, do you think that these events may mark the start of a new normal for the New York and New Jersey regions, and if so, how do you see the future unfolding in terms of water supply and fire safety?
Guest 1: Unfortunately, it’s quite possible that we’ll see more frequent and severe droughts and wildfires in the future. As climate change progresses, these events will likely become more common and more destructive. In terms of water supply, I think we need to start preparing for longer periods of water scarcity by investing in infrastructure that can store and conserve water. We also need to promote water-saving practices among the public, such as fixing leaky pipes and taking shorter showers. For fire safety, we need to improve our prevention efforts and be prepared for rapid response. This includes maintaining fire-resistant vegetation around urban areas and having well-trained firefighters.
Moderator: Moving on to the ban on fires and barbecues in city parks, what are your thoughts on the effectiveness of such measures?
Guest 1: While it’s understandable
