NJ sets all-time record for longest period without rain

TRENTON - The U.S. Weather Service Mount Holly announced today that the state has reached the longest period of consecutive days without rain. The previous record in Trenton has been broken.

According to the Weather Service the last day of measurable rainfall at the Trenton-Mercer Airport was on Sept. 28 with no measurable rainfall during October. Only a trace of rainfall occurred on Sept. 29, Oct. 4, 5, and 24, and Nov. 1, making it 39 consecutive days without measurable precipitation.

The last record was 38 consecutive days without rain between April 16 and May 23 in 1903.

Precipitation records for Trenton date back to September 1865.

Also on Thursday, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection announced it would hold a public hearing 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 to hear from water supply officials and the public about circumstances surrounding the drought before it determines if the state should declare a Water Supply Drought Warning.

The DEP issued a Water Supply Drought Watch in mid-October. To upgrade from a watch to a waring, state law requires a public hearing to determine if a critical water supply situation exists across the state.

The DEP is responsible for monitoring and managing water supply in collaboration with water providers and the public.

The public hearing will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12 to assess the severity of current conditions to determine water supply management options.

If a Drought Warning condition becomes necessary, water suppliers will be required to reduce the likelihood of a water emergency, which could include:

• Modifying water allocation permits
• Developing alternative water supplies
• Performing interconnection tests of public water systems
• Bulk transfer of water between systems
• Any other modification or measure deemed appropriate to ensure water supply

Public hearing attendees are required to email the DEP at NJDrought@dep.nj.gov for meeting credentials and provide their name, phone number and affiliation.

Written comments can be sent before Nov. 12 to the same email address or to Hearing OfficerBrandon Carreno, NJDEP Water Supply Division, Mail Code 401-04Q, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625.

Learn more at dep.nj.gov/drought/faq/ or dep.nj.gov/drought/current-conditions/

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