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New Jersey is experiencing its first extreme drought conditions in 22 years, leading to an increase in wildfires across the state. The latest drought status map, released on November 7, shows three counties in the state experiencing an “extreme” drought, a condition that is very rare and typically occurs only once every 20 to 50 years, according to State Climatologist David Robinson. The affected counties include Atlantic, Burlington, and most of Ocean County, making up about 20% of the entire state. The rest of the state is in a severe drought.
The drought has been triggered by more than two months of very little rainfall, coupled with warm temperatures and gusty winds. The state has not seen significant rain since August, and no measurable rain has fallen since late September or early October. This has led to a surge in wildfires, with over 100 reported since the start of the month. Two significant fires are currently burning in southern New Jersey, one in Ocean County and another in Bergen County. The fire in Burlington and Camden counties is 50% contained but threatens more than 100 structures. The wildfire in Jackson has burned through 350 acres and is 60% contained.
According to NJ.com, three weeks ago, New Jersey’s worsening drought situation prompted Gov. Phil Murphy’s office to declare a drought watch, asking residents and businesses across the entire state to voluntarily conserve water. If the dry conditions persist, the drought watch may be elevated to a more serious drought warning or rare drought emergency. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has also issued a Stage 3 fire ban, its highest level of restrictions, which prohibits the lighting of any open fires in any area of the state.