PRINT AS PDF

While extreme heat in parts of the western United States, including Phoenix’s 21-day stretch where it tied or broke daily high temperature records every day made global headlines, a dry stretch was quietly expanding in parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. Through Sunday, October 20th, Philadelphia and New York City had received no measurable rainfall this month. That is the driest start to October on record.

As a result, most of the region is now abnormally dry. Parts of the region have now succumbed into a moderate drought with a few pockets of severe drought. The dry weather looks to continue through most or all of this week.

On account of the dry condition, leaves are beginning to burst into stronger colors than usual. One photo from Rockefeller Preserve State Park in Pleasantville, NY is below.