It finally rained in NYC — but dry days are still ahead, forecast says

A merciful shower of rain hit New York City on Sunday evening after weeks of no measurable precipitation — but that doesn’t mean the dry days are over, meteorologists say.

Just under a quarter of an inch of rain fell on the city late on Sunday before ending on Monday morning, according to James Tomasini of the National Weather Service.

He said dry conditions were likely to continue this week, with only a 20% chance of rain on Thursday.

“It really looks like we are going to have mostly dry conditions through the rest of the week and actually into the weekend,” he told Gothamist on Monday.

The forecast comes as the city remains under a drought watch Mayor Eric Adams declared on Nov. 2 following a dangerously dry October. It also follows a series of brush fires in Brooklyn and North Jersey over the weekend that created smoky conditions and poor air quality in the metro area, especially for vulnerable groups, including older people and those with respiratory issues.

Before Sunday, the last time the city recorded any measurable rain was on Oct. 29 — and prior to that, it was on Sept. 29, the National Weather Service said.

Also over the weekend, Adams announced he was temporarily banning grilling in city parks to reduce the risk of fires spreading out of control. And as of Monday, firefighters in West Milford, New Jersey, were still working to contain a massive wildfire as winds picked up and the ground started drying out.

As part of the drought watch, officials are urging New Yorkers to conserve water by taking shorter showers, running dishwashers only when full, repairing leaks and not leaving faucets running while brushing their teeth, among other steps. City agencies are also updating their plans to implement stricter water conservation measures if necessary.

The reservoirs the city relies on for tap water are currently at under 64% capacity, compared to a normal 79%, according to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. Meanwhile, half of the city’s usual water supply is shut down for $2 billion in repairs to the 85-mile Delaware Aqueduct, and more water is being drawn from the Croton Watershed upstate to make up for it.