New York Today: Stealth Drought

Bryan Thomas for The New York Times Umbrellas might get some much-needed exercise today.

There’s news in the weather forecast today: It may rain a tenth of an inch or so.

That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s long overdue.

We are in the midst of a drought.

Less than half an inch of rain has fallen in the past 6 weeks, when normally 6.35 inches would fall.

Last month was the third driest October on record.

And so last week, the United States Drought Monitor declared a “moderate drought” for New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.

The official definition of moderate drought sounds serious. It includes “damage to crops” and “water shortages developing or imminent.”

But, meteorologists say, we’re O.K., partly because we’re still coasting off the second wettest June ever.

There have been a few more brush fires than usual. But the reservoirs are fine.

Still, rain would be good in the coming week, said David Stark, a National Weather Service meteorologist, “Otherwise, it could become worse.”

Unfortunately, there’s no more rain forecast through Wednesday.

So enjoy any raindrops today.

And pray for more.

Here’s what else you need to know for Thursday.

WEATHER

Whatever rain falls will finish by mid-afternoon. High around 61. Clear and cold tonight.

COMMUTE

Subways: Click for latest status.

Rails: Click for L.I.R.R., Metro-North or New Jersey Transit status.

Roads: Click for traffic map or radio report on the 1s.

Alternate-side parking is in effect the rest of the week.

COMING UP TODAY

- An indoor rink materializes inside Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall. Fake ice, but real Disney on Ice skaters. 10:30 a.m. performance. [Free]

- For more indoor skating on fake ice, take the little ones to the Grinch’s Holiday Workshop, ongoing at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

- Artists behind a playful show of installations in East Harlem public gardens talk about their work, at Harlem Garage on West 118th Street. 7 p.m. [Free]

- Free silent movie with live piano accompaniment: the 1921 melodrama “Tol’able David,” at the Public Library for the Performing Arts in Lincoln Center. 6 p.m.

- For more events, see The New York Times Arts & Entertainment guide.

IN THE NEWS

- Bill de Blasio remains unsure if he’ll move his family to Gracie Mansion. His son wants to stay near his high school in Brooklyn. [New York Times]

- A Long Island woman who killed her three children but was found not guilty by reason of insanity lost a bid to inherit their estate. [Associated Press, via Daily News]

- Soccer: The New York Red Bulls’ season ended with a playoff loss to the Houston Dynamo, 2-1 in overtime.

- Hockey: Rangers squash Penguins, 5-1.

Joseph Burgess contributed reporting.

New York Today is a morning roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till about noon.

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