Syracuse, N.Y. -- New York state has issued drought warnings for a dozen counties in the Adirondacks and western Southern Tier.

A warning is the second of four levels of state drought alerts issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation. A warning calls upon public water supplies to implement drought contingency plans and local agencies to prepare for a water shortage emergency.

Six counties were also added to the drought watch list, a lesser category. The only areas of the state not under some kind of drought alert are New York City and Westchester County.

While rain finally did fall this week , it barely wet the soil in many parts of the state. Most of Western New York has seen a tenth of an inch or less this week. Parts of the North County and Catskills saw an inch, better

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