New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday issued the first drought warning since 2002 amid historically low rainfall and blazing brush fires.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued the city's first drought warning in 22 years, as its reservoirs continue to drop below normal amid a near-record dry spell.

A drought warning has been declared in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday. Under a drought warning, New Yorkers would still be urged to voluntarily conserve water, but now city agencies will have to implement drought protocols.

Mayor Eric Adams on Monday elevated New York City’s drought watch to a drought warning, the last step before declaring a drought emergency, which would come with mandatory water restrictions. The warning extends beyond the city to include 10 additional New York State counties,

New York City 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

They had already prompted New York City and state officials to implement water-conservation protocols when Mayor Eric Adams upgraded the drought warning and temporarily halted a $2 billion aqueduct repair project that had stopped drinking water from flowing from some reservoirs in the Catskill region.

Mayor Eric Adams instructed New York City agencies to enact water-saving measures and implored New Yorkers to continue conserving water on Monday as the city’s drought watch escalated to a drought warning amid persistent dry conditions.