Will This Dry Pattern Change?

The Hudson Valley and Catskills regions are experiencing moderate drought conditions and is under a Drought Watch, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).A "watch" is the first of four levels of state drought advisories ("watch," "warning," "emergency" and "disaster"). There are no statewide mandatory water use restrictions in place under a drought watch, but residents are strongly encouraged to voluntarily conserve water. Local public water suppliers may require conservation measures, depending upon local needs and conditions.The region is currently running 6 to 8 inches below average in rainfall for the 60-day period, with an average rainfall of nearly 9 inches. The dry conditions are contributing to increased fire danger, prompting regular "Red Flag Warnings" across the region.We spoke to Alex Marra, CEO and Founder of Hudson Valley Weather, about how long this dry pattern might last.