One Upstate city is in severe drought after driest stretch of weather in 138 years

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Rochester area is now in a severe drought following the driest July-to-September period ever recorded.

Rochester has seen just 3.81 inches of rain since July 1. That beats the low rainfall record for that period set 138 years ago, in 1887, according to the National Weather Service.

Normal rainfall from July to September is 10 inches.

The U.S. Drought Monitor’s weekly report on Thursday placed the Rochester area in the severe drought category. That’s the third of five levels of drought.

In a severe drought, groundwater level declines, irrigation ponds dry up, trees are stressed and more susceptible to insect pests, and fire danger increases, according to the drought monitor.

Other Upstate cities have been very dry, too. In Buffalo, the July-to-September stretch