Parts of South Jersey Now Officially Facing Extreme Drought Conditions

As we enjoy this recent spell of summer-like weather in South Jersey, portions of our area are now in an extreme drought.

And, sadly, there isn't much in the way of heavy rainfall in the forecast that will help us get out of it anytime soon.

Cape May and Cumberland Counties Reach Extreme Drought Status

According to the National Weather Service office in Mt. Holly, all of Cape May County and the southern half of Cumberland County are now classified as being in an extreme drought, which is level four out of five.

All other parts of South Jersey are now in a severe drought.

Severe Drought Conditions in Cape May and Cumberland Counties NJ - Photo: NWS Mt Holly NJ / Canva

Rainfall Totals Running Far Below Normal

Through June 11th, only 14.14" of rain has fallen all year at Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona. That's a good five inches below what we should have by now.

For June, ACY has reported only 0.77" of rain, all of which came during a bout of rain this past Wednesday evening. Had those showers and thunderstorms not moved through, we would not have had a single drop of rain so far for the month.

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No Major Rainmakers Expected Soon

Unfortunately, once an area starts getting extremely dry and needs multiple inches of rain to turn things around, you really need a tropical-type system to move through the area, or very slow-moving thunderstorms. But, obviously, those can cause their own issues.

There are some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast through this coming weekend, but not any drought-busting-type systems.

And as we're all out and about over the next few weeks, be extremely careful with any outdoor fires, firepits, and barbeques, and don't throw cigarette butts out of your car window.

Chris Coleman is a South Jersey native and has been a cornerstone of the Atlantic City radio market since 1998. He serves as Brand Manager for WPG Talk Radio 95.5 and afternoon on-air personality for Cat Country 107.3. A five-time President's Circle award winner and Townsquare Media's 2024 Content Creator of the Year, Chris covers news, events, and stories of interest across Southern New Jersey. Story tips: chris.coleman@townsquaremedia.com