10/28/2024
WT Staff
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October 28, 2024 959 am EDT
Lake Champlain watershed reaches extreme drought
Streamflow Situation from the USGS network of streamflow gauges
Sunny and clear in the city Monday with a high of 58, overcast and 39 in the west with a forecast high of 56, clouds breaking in the afternoon for a partly sunny day. The drought continues with an escalation in severity, Lake Champlain watershed at extreme hydrologic drought in north Washington and east Essex. Statewide, streamflow levels remain much below seasonal normal statewide.
Conserve water notice issued in Orange County: City of Monroe is asking residents to conserve water as the lack of rainfall, low streamflows and drought conditions have dropped the level in the reservoir, impacting Water Districts 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14.
Next to the extreme drought condition showing up in the northeast, St. Lawrence County remains in severe drought along the Raquette River channel through central St Lawrence County. Area immediately east and west of the severe drought rated Raquette River channel is below normal, picking up to moderate drought at the Oswegatchie River channel on the west side of St Lawrence County. Black River and west St Lawrence River watersheds are rated below normal again, as reported on the weekend. Lake Ontario minor tributaries west section is rated moderate drought in Niagara, Orleans and west Monroe. With the exception of Genesee and lower Chemung, lower Susquehanna River watersheds, all other parts of NYS are rated below normal on the drought map.
As of this report, there are five low flows reported as provisional data from USGS monitors around the state, one of these, Seneca River near Baldwinsville, recording 1st percentile extreme low flow Monday.
NWS Winter Weather Awareness Week October 27 through November 2, 2024
WTNY joins NWS in promoting winter weather safety during this year's "Winter Weather Awareness Week".
Winter can bring dangerously cold temperatures and create hazardous weather conditions that can create many threats to life and property if one is not prepared. Today's subject is preparedness, the planning and precautions you can take to mitigate against New York's harsh winters and how you can become ready and more resilient.
Monday, October 28 : Preparedness
Have a plan It has been proven that the best way to prepare for extreme weather is to have a plan. Never let a winter storm take you by surprise. If you are expecting to be at home or at work during an extreme winter weather event, you need to be concerned about losing power, heat, or cell / phone service. Losing one of these three services may create a life threatening situation.
Whether you are at home, on the road or at work, one should always have an emergency kit. An emergency kit should include the following:
- a flashlight and extra batteries
- a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio
- food and water
- extra prescriptions
- an emergency heat source
- first-aid supplies
- a cell phone
The best action to take during a winter storm is to stay inside and not travel, unless it is an emergency.
If you must drive, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination! Let someone know where you are going and what route you are going to take. If your car gets stuck in a storm, stay in your vehicle! If you leave your vehicle, you could become disoriented quickly if there is wind-driven snow and cold. Run the motor for a total of 10 minutes each hour for heat. While running the motor, open the window a little bit so that fresh air can get into the car to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you clear snow away from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning. Attach a bright cloth to your car door to draw attention to yourself, and when it stops snowing, raise the hood of your car to indicate to others you need help.
For more winter weather safety and preparedness information, please click here.
Return here for the next subjects coming up this week:
Tuesday: Lake Effect Snow and Snow Squalls.
Wednesday: Nor'easters and Ice Storms.
Thursday: Winter Flooding and Ice Jams.
Friday: National Weather Service Winter Products.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The number of licensed drinking water facilities in NYS is 8205, the same as last quarter, the compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act has not changed since the last quarterly report, 92.6% of facilities are fully compliant. 7.4%, 611 facilities have non-compliance issues and/or SDWA violations in the prior 12 quarters. Of these 611, 49 facilities have significant violations, including exceeding the maximum contaminant levels, violation of treatment techniques or groundwater rules.
See the latest EPA - SDWA Compliance Report for NYS, October 2024, here.
See prior quarter EPA - SDWA Compliance Report for NYS, July 2024, here.
Safe Drinking Water Advisories
Fulton County: Johnstown issued a BWA for any customers that experienced a disruption of water service or loss of pressure last week on Thursday. A boil advisory is a necessary precaution whenever there is a drop in water pressure. Johnstown Waterworks supplies 8154 residential customers from a surface water source in the Mohawk River watershed. A check of the compliance history online shows Johnstown with an impeccable record, no significant violations or non-compliance matters with the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to the EPA.
Take a look at the Johnstown Waterworks drinking water facility profile, here.
WT HAB Tracker from the satellite monitoring program of the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS) and NYS DEC
New York
Seventy nine HABs remain active on the DEC notifications board Monday morning, as reported Sunday also. Reported as first HABs of the year for Bog Brook Reservoir, we did locate an earlier HAB confirmed Sep 16, this is the second HAB report for Bog Brook active on the notifications board for 2024. To the south in Putnam County, East Branch Reservoir does have its first confirmed bluegreen bloom, as reported here Sunday. Reports made prior to Oct 13 have moved into the archive file, that set of records at 1983 for the current season to date. The impacted water body list is changing over to an archive report for the season, here. See the active and archive activity by water body.
The latest satellite image of Lake Champlain was captured Oct 27, completely cloud obscured. The prior image was also mostly cloud obscured with no HAB activity noted between cloud breaks. Note Lake Champlain watershed in extreme drought map impact the HAB activity, more to follow. See the NCCOS color image of Lake Champlain here.
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