New York City on Monday issued its first drought warning in 22 years and paused major repairs to its main water aqueduct out of concern for the lack of rainfall. Dry conditions across the Northeast have been blamed for hundreds of brush fires.

As historically dry conditions persisted, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday declared a drought warning and paused a years-long project to repair a leak in the Delaware Aqueduct.“While we cannot make it rain,

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A drought watch has now been issued for nearly all of Upstate New York, with the southeastern corner of the state under a more severe drought warning. The state remains under a burn ban through the end of the month, and more than half of New York state is at high or very high danger of rapid wildfire spread.