Orleans designated to be in ‘moderate drought,’ up from ‘abnormally dry’

Photo by Tom Rivers: The grass along the towpath in Albion, just east of the Ingersoll Street lift bridge is shown on Tuesday. Much of the grass has turned yellow due to a scarce rainfall this summer.

Orleans County is officially in a “moderate drought.” After several weeks of being designated as “abnormally dry,” the county is now in drought conditions, according to a map and data released today by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

No where in the state was considered to be in a moderate drought until the map was updated today. All of Orleans is in moderate drought. That designation also includes most of Genesee, about half of Monroe and Niagara, and the northern part of Erie.

The “moderate drought” conditions cover 3.8 percent of the state. The abnormally dry conditions have spread in the past week from 23.1 percent of the state to 49.3 percent.

In abnormally dry conditions, the Drought Monitor said crop growth is stunted, fire danger is elevated, lawns brown early, and gardens begin to wilt.

In moderate drought conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor said honey production declines, irrigation use increases, and hay and grain yields are lower than normal.

Trees and landscaping also are stressed, fish are stressed, reservoir and lake levels are below normal capacity, and wildfires and ground fires increase.

This map posted today by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the “moderate drought” conditions in Orleans, most of Genesee, and parts of Niagara, Erie and Monroe counties. The “abnormally dry” conditions in yellow have also spread in New York.