The Nov. 21 report of the U. S. Drought Monitor shows that Cape May County has moved into the extreme drought category from the previous week, when more than half the county was one level back, at severe drought. The state has a drought warning in effect, along with stage three fire restrictions.
Statewide, the extreme drought designation applies to just over 50% of the land area and all or most of nine counties. Covering South Jersey, the extreme drought conditions have moved as far north as the southern half of Monmouth County.
Extreme drought, often called D3, displays conditions that can lead to major crop failures and pasture losses, water shortages and significant new restrictions on water use. For now the state is still asking for voluntary water conservation.
The stage three fire restrictions prohibit all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity.
The drought has reached a stage where state climatologist David Robinson says it will take several months of above-average precipitation to replenish aboveground and underground water supplies. National Weather Service data suggests that Cape May County currently has a more than 9-inch rainfall deficit.
If conditions do not improve, the state could move from a drought warning to a drought emergency, at which point water use restrictions would become mandatory.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
