Bryan Thomas for The New York Times Umbrellas might get some much-needed exercise today. Thereâs news in the weather forecast today: It may rain a tenth of an inch or so.
That doesnât sound like much, but itâs 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 âmoderate droughtâ for New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.
The official definition of moderate drought sounds serious. It includes âdamage to cropsâ and âwater shortages developing or imminent.â
But, meteorologists say, weâre O.K., partly because weâre 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, âOtherwise, it could become worse.â
Unfortunately, thereâs no more rain forecast through Wednesday.
So enjoy any raindrops today.
And pray for more.
Hereâs 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 Terminalâs 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 Grinchâs Holiday Workshop, ongoing at the Childrenâs 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 âTolâable David,â 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 heâll 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 Bullsâ 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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