Overview

• The watch now spans much of upstate, adding Onondaga, Oneida and southern Cayuga and reaching the Hudson Valley, with Cortland and Madison among the few remaining off the list.
• New York City is not included, though nearby counties such as Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Dutchess are covered.
• A watch is the lowest of four drought advisories and could be elevated to a warning, emergency or disaster if conditions deteriorate.
• There are no mandatory statewide limits on water use, but residents are asked to conserve and local suppliers may impose their own measures.
• Dry conditions have lowered streams and groundwater, with the Syracuse area receiving 7.75 inches of June–August precipitation versus 13.55 inches in 2024.