Latest news with #NewJerseyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
It wasn't your imagination: May was the fifth wettest on record in NJ
After a long period of drought, New Jersey saw the fifth wettest May on record, according to a spring 2025 recap from the state climatologist's office. With all the rain that May provided, New Jersey reservoirs that supply drinking water to residents have been almost completely restored, said David Robinson, a Rutgers professor and the state climatologist. New Jersey is nearly out of its drought period and has sufficient reservoir levels for the hotter summer months ahead — and more rain is expected in the next few days. 'The Department of Environmental Protection is still cautious about this, and they have still retained the state in a drought warning primarily because the groundwater is being slow to respond, particularly in South Jersey,' Robinson 2024 was the driest in the state dating back to 1895, when records were first kept. New Jersey had not only the driest October on record, but it was the driest of any month in the state since 1895, Robinson said. The lack of precipitation in the fall and winter months were the result of patterns of precipitation in New England and around the Great Lakes that were just missing New Jersey as they passed by, Robinson said. Coastal storms such as Nor'easters are also sources of moisture for the area, but they didn't come until April and May when the pattern shifted. La Niña, a storm pattern in the Pacific Ocean, is possibly a reason other coastal storms were irregular due to sea surface temperatures, atmospheric pressure and wind patterns changing, Robinson said. 'A lot of what we are talking about here and what happened in May, that's just weather patterns that are associated with the day-to-day fluctuations in circulation,' Robinson said. 'That's what makes it so difficult to unravel all of this and explain all of this.' North Jersey reservoir levels dropped to nearly 20% below average between the months of January and March, according to data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In April and May, those reservoirs' water levels shot up to about 10% above average. For instance, the three reservoirs operated by Veolia along the Hackensack River in Bergen County — the Oradell Reservoir, Lake Tappan and Woodcliff Lake — had dropped to just above 50% of capacity by February, and well below the historical average for that time of year. By the end of May, they had rebounded to 100% capacity. The reservoirs rely on winter to supply them with water in time for the summer, Robinson said. The just-below normal precipitation in spring slightly reduced the statewide drought, but the large amounts of rain in May were able to replenish the reservoirs. 'We should always be careful with our use of water, because New Jersey's freshwater supplies are quite finite, and they can change pretty quickly,' Robinson said. 'With just a couple of hot, dry months, we could be back into a worrisome position again. The indicators are that we won't, but better to be careful.' The area will get more rain in the next few days with stronger showers the evening of June 6 and lighter showers the evening of June 7, according to the National Weather Service. July and August are also generally the wettest months of the year, so a drought in New Jersey this summer is not likely, Robinson said. 'Patterns become more local or regional during the summer, so it's hard to get a grasp on just what's going to unfold,' he said. 'However, there is some indication that this summer will lean toward the normal to somewhat above normal precipitation pattern.' This article originally appeared on May 2025 was 5th wettest on record in NJ, as reservoirs rebound
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Beaches in NJ tested for bacteria, declared safe for swimming. Kicks off summer season
With Memorial Day weekend in sight, seven Jersey Shore beach spots have been tested for bacteria and declared to be safe for swimming, according to state environmental officials. Throughout the summer, health officials will test more than 300 sites around New Jersey weekly, looking for high bacteria levels that could cause illness. Testing is performed each Monday and results are typically available by Tuesday afternoon. Beaches that fail for having high bacteria levels are retested daily during the week, until their microbe counts fall to level considered safe for swimming. Leaky sewer systems, animal waste and stormwater runoff are all contributors to high levels of bacteria at lakes and beaches. In large enough concentrations, these microbes can cause illnesses like vomiting, diarrhea and ear infections in swimmers. People with weak immune systems, young children and elderly adults are particularly at risk. The seven beaches that have tested safe for swimming as of May 20, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, are: Belmar beach at 5th Avenue. Belmar beach at 12th Avenue. Belmar beach at 20th Avenue. Belmar's L Street beach on the Shark River. Point Pleasant Beach's northernmost beach. Point Pleasant Beach at Jenkinson's Pavilion. Point Pleasant Beach at Maryland Avenue. Despite low bacteria levels, swimming can still be dangerous at these locations. Local officials regularly warn swimmers not to enter the water unless lifeguards are present. Additionally, midweek rain could flush animal waste, pesticides, oil and other pollutants into streams and rivers and increase bacteria counts in some waterways temporarily, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Swimmers should avoid water that is cloudier than usual, discolored or has a bad smell, according to the Centers for Disease Control. To prevent illness, avoid swimming with any cuts or wounds, and keep sand out of children's mouths, according to the agency. If soap and water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating on the beach, according to the CDC. Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@ or 732-557-5701. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Worried about ocean swimming? Belmar, Point Pleasant beaches safe
Int'l Business Times
25-04-2025
- Int'l Business Times
NJ Wildfire: 19-Year-Old Charged With Arson As Blaze Burns 15,250 Acres
A massive wildfire in New Jersey has now devoured over 15,000 acres. AFP Joseph Kling was charged with arson after he allegedly set wooden pallets on fire and left them before they were fully extinguished Several structures were still threatened by the wildfire after it already burned down a commercial building and multiple vehicles Sen. Andy Kim said "there's still a lot of anxiety" as he visited contained sites that the wildfire left charred Authorities in New Jersey have charged a 19-year-old individual with arson and aggravated arson following a massive wildfire that started Tuesday in Ocean County. The wildfire has since been spreading dramatically since Tuesday, even as firefighters work tirelessly to contain and extinguish it. The Jones Road Wildfire has now scorched 15,250 acres and remains at 50% containment as per the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's latest update. Teen charged In a joint statement Thursday, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradly D. Billhimer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, and Ocean Township Chief of Police Michal Rogalski, announced that Joseph Kling, 19, was "charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with a wildfire that started in Waretown on April 22, 2025, and continued to spread throughout the southern Ocean County area." Investigations into the cause of the fire revealed that "Kling was the individual responsible for setting wooden pallets on fire – and then leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished." Kling is now at the Ocean County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing over the charges. Several structures still threatened by wildfire Meanwhile, the local forest fire service said in its Thursday update that evacuation orders have now been lifted for around 5,000 residents in the Lacey and Ocean Townships who were forced out of their homes at the peak of the fire Tuesday. Despite the evacuations being lifted, the wildfire's threat remained, especially on four structures within the blaze's path. WILDFIRE UPDATE: Jones Road Wildfire - Ocean & Lacey Townships, Ocean CountySIZE & CONTAINMENT🔥 15,250 acres 🔥 50% contained — New Jersey Forest Fire Service (@njdepforestfire) April 24, 2025 Some previously closed roads have now been reopened, but "unimproved roadways within the fire perimeter remain closed." As of Thursday, the Jones Road Wildfire has destroyed one commercial building and multiple outbuildings and vehicles. Senator visits contained area amid lingering "anxiety" Democratic Sen. Andy Kim on Thursday visited some areas across the county where the devastating wildfire has already been contained. In his video, Kim stood on the backdrop of charred road signs and trees as he explained how a warehouse near where he stood was completely burned down. There is a lot of damage and anxiety around Ocean County from the Jones Road Wildfire. The service of our firefighters and first responders is nothing short of heroic. This isn't over yet as they keep up their progress containing the fire. It is 50% contained right now, impacting… — Senator Andy Kim (@SenatorAndyKim) April 24, 2025 He praised the work of first responders, firefighters, and everyone involved in containing the fire. "Certainly, it's not over yet," he noted, as the fire was still at 50% contained -- the same figure from Wednesday, and yet the wildfire expanded over 2,000 acres more. He also reiterated that "there's still a lot of anxiety" for Ocean County residents and others in New Jersey due to the wildfire. © Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain headed for Northeast, but key drought areas may miss out
Drenching rain is coming for parts of the Northeast from late Friday to Saturday evening, AccuWeather meteorologists say. However, some areas could miss out on the heaviest rain and with dry winds expected to follow, wildfire risk may ramp up again next week. Very light winds from Tuesday to Thursday morning gave firefighters the chance to gain significant containment on the massive Jones Road Fire tearing across New Jersey. A south-southwest breeze will pick up later Thursday and continue into Friday and could cause the fire to spread more rapidly once again. The temperature will also increase compared to earlier this week. Highs are forecast to be well into the 70s F in most locations in New Jersey and even into the 80s in parts of the mid-Atlantic. Smoke fills the sky as an inferno rages from a wildfire in Lacey Township, New Jersey, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection via AP) As firefighters control the active part of the fire, smoke will diminish, but flareups and certain fuels can cause the amount of smoke to increase. Aside from the threat of fire, visibility and air quality will be the main issues as flames continue to ravage the state. Downwind of the fire, smoke can cause air quality issues dozens of miles away. Farther south and west, where smoke has invaded the lower and middle parts of the atmosphere due to light winds, haze and the smell of smoke are possible. During the first part of the weekend, higher humidity levels may keep some fuels moist as a storm swings through with sporadic rainfall ranging from spotty showers to a thorough soaking. Areas from upstate New York to northern and central New England will likely be the greatest beneficiaries of the rain, with a general 0.50 inch to 1.50 inches in store. Behind the rain or sporadic showers into Saturday night, winds will kick up. "While it will be much cooler on Sunday, when compared to Friday, the gusty winds and very dry air will quickly dry out the brush and fallen leaves once again," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said. "That could boost the wildfire risk, depending how much rain fell on local areas from the storm earlier in the weekend." Monday will likely be similar to Wednesday with light winds, sunshine and dry air. In much of New Jersey, highs will range from the mid-60s to the low 70s. By Tuesday, however, warmth will build over the region on a quickening southwest breeze. "Even though humidity levels are likely to rise on Tuesday, the combination of warmth, sunshine, a breeze and dry brush may lead to a rising wildfire risk," Anderson said. Yet another storm will swing through on Tuesday night, bringing showers and thunderstorms to the Northeast. Once again, the showers could be sporadic, with some areas in the mid-Atlantic missing the rainfall. April has brought little rain to parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York and southern New England. In some cases, rainfall has only been 25-50% of the historical average for the month that typically brings between 3 and 4 inches. While drought conditions are not exceptional in the Northeast, many locations are experiencing abnormally dry soil conditions. Some areas are in the throes of a moderate to severe drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. You can check the air quality in your area anytime-for free-on the Accuweather app. Our air pollution forecast models have been enhanced to provide you with superior accuracy - before, during and after wildfires - to help keep your family, friends and your business better prepared and informed. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
CBS News
23-04-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, N.J. burns through 12,500 acres
The Jones Road Wildfire in Ocean County, New Jersey is approximately 40% contained after burning through 12,500 acres, according to the latest update from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. "We continue to work using our air fleet with bucket drops, using the helicopter. That will continue until darkness occurs this evening," said John Cecil, assistant commissioner for state parks, forests and historic sites at NJ DEP. "We do have 18 structures that continue to be threatened here along [County Route] 532." Cecil said investigators continue to look into the cause of the fire. Evacuations have been lifted for some 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey Townships. Lacey Township Mayor Peter Curatolo said a business called Liberty Garage Door & Awning was destroyed in an industrial area, but so far no injuries have been reported. Several outbuildings and vehicles were also destroyed, authorities said. "This has been a big fire," Cecil said. "It's impressive to see the intensity of those fire runs that made their way last night, burned out that 12,500 acres, but we still've got a pretty big box to work this in and still some work to do to clean up around the edges." "Thanks to the incredible, heroic work of the good men and women of our New Jersey Forest Fire Service, folks' homes and lives have been saved, and we've truly averted a major disaster," New Jersey Forest Fire Service Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said Wednesday morning. "This wildfire is not under full and complete control, we still have a lot of work to do to achieve complete containment of the wildfire. But there were 1,300 homes that were threatened during the course of fighting this fire." "Not one single-family home was damaged, not one person was injured, there has not been one loss of life," said Curatolo, who thanked fellow officials and first responders. The fire service commissioner said he expects the acreage to grow as they work toward containment, saying, "This could very well end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years." "As we continue to get this under full control, the expectation is that that number of acres will grow -- and grow in a place that is unpopulated, that is more open wilderness. But in order to fully contain the fire, more burnout operations are necessary, and that will likely increase the overall acreage," LaTourette said. Smoke a concern as NYC issues Air Quality Health Advisory Forecast maps show the smoke that is now billowing across South Jersey could also blow into the New York City area in the coming days. New York City has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Thursday. "Based on the weather that we're dealing with right now -- humidity's down, we've got these breezes, temperatures are up -- I do believe this fire is going to continue to burn, especially in some of the low areas, probably until we get some precipitation," said New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly. "So based on the forecast, it looks like Friday night into Saturday, which realistically is only a couple days away. If that does in fact hold true, I tend to believe that we should have this fire contained by the weekend." New Jersey Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for Ocean County, which took effect at 7 a.m. Wednesday. "Yesterday, our State Forest Fire Service informed us of a wildfire in Ocean Township, Ocean County. Due to its accelerated growth, with an estimated burn of 8,500 acres, threatening more than 1,000 structures, requiring the evacuation of residents in the area, and the loss of power to over 25,000 residents, I am declaring a State of Emergency for Ocean County," Way said in a statement. "I encourage all residents in the County to continue to monitor the proper channels, and to use caution and follow all safety protocols." The Garden State Parkway and Route 9 reopened. "Going forward, what's our plan? Our plan is to get people back home, get roads reopened and knock that smoke down," said Trevor Raynor, with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. "So we're going to do that through mop up and patrol. We've got approximately 100 firefighters on the fire line today, and they're out there working really hard, squirting water along the parkway so there's no smoke on that morning commute or evening commute. "They're putting out stumps and logs around homes so that there's no smoke, and they can open their windows, and their homes are safe and they feel safe," he continued. "We understand that evacuations are very disruptive, we'd like to thank the public for being understanding and patient with us." JCP&L expects to restore Lacey power Wednesday afternoon Jersey Central Power & Light turned off power to roughly 25,000 homes and businesses Tuesday evening to protect firefighters as they battled the flames. "That includes pretty much all of our customers in Barnegat and Ocean townships, as well as about three quarters of our customers in Lacey," one JCP&L official said Wednesday. "This morning, we were cleared to begin our damage assessments. Our crews have been out since early this morning surveying our lines, checking our poles, our wires, our devices to see what can handle power, what damage there is. And we will begin the restoration process as those surveys are completed." JCP&L expects to restore power to approximately 6,700 customers in Lacey by Wednesday afternoon, though the timetable remains to be seen for the other townships. In the meantime, the Red Cross has set up shelters at Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin and Manchester Township High School in Manchester. The Lacey Township mayor said he also opened a makeshift shelter after learning a senior center was inside the mandatory evacuation zone, but the shelter had no power, nurses or emergency supplies. He was eventually able to load the seniors onto a bus and take them to the Manchester location instead. N.J. fire officials point to ongoing dry conditions The massive, rapidly growing wildfire started around 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area of Barnegat Township. It forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and shut down several major roads. "The wildfire was about 10 to 20 acres upon arrival. We had resources there quickly, we dispatched aircraft. Even with a big show of force to contain this fire, it grew to be a large wildfire," Raynor explained Wednesday. He said April 20 is considered the peak of spring fire season. "We're right at the peak, it doesn't get any worse than this date in history in New Jersey. So that, coupled with the drought, coupled with the low humidity, winds, nice sunny weather, it just made for a difficult fire fight," he said. The fire service says the state saw 310 wildfires with 315 acres burned this time last year, compared to 362 wildfires with 16,572 acres burned during the same period this year. "As many folks here know, we've been under continuing dry conditions, particularly in the southern part of the state, and those dry conditions have very much influenced this fire," said LaTourette. He said the drought conditions are "deeply serious," particularly in the southern half of the state. "That is likely to persist for months ahead," he said. "The recent rains have been welcome, they've helped restore some reservoir and stream flows that we need for drinking water, but it hasn't solved for the dryness that has characterized this area and worsened in recent years." Officials also said a 17,000-acre wildfire broke out in the same area back in 2007, as the result of a military exercise. The cause of this fire remains under investigation. JCP&L encourages customers to monitor its website for the latest.
