Rainfall eases drought in Northern New York counties

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) - The recent rainy weather has removed Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to be taken off the Drought Warning list.

The three Northern New York counties are in the group of 21 across the state that have been downgraded to Drought Watch in an announcement by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Wednesday.

The other remaining counties that were mentioned were Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, northern Herkimer, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Steuben, Warren, and Wayne.

A total of 56 counties are now on the Drought Watch list.

“Thankfully, rain is providing communities across the state with some needed relief, resulting in downgrading from warning to watch in the Adiro