From Washington to New Jersey, Here’s Where Incoming Rainstorms Are Projected to Reduce Drought the Most

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As a Pacific “bomb cyclone” delivers rainfall and high winds across the Northwest, and a major rainstorm moves in on the Northeast, more than 10% of the U.S. is forecast to receive at least 1.25 inches of rain over the next three days.

The projected rainfall will bring much-needed relief to a country that has experienced dry conditions and subnormal rainfall for most of the year. By mid-November, 88% of the contiguous U.S. was abnormally dry, the largest share since the U.S. Drought Monitor began tracking national drought conditions in 1999.

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While incoming rainstorms will not completely alleviate dry conditions in any major city, torrential rainfall could reverse weeks of no precipitation in some parts of the country. In some cities, the amount of rainfall forecast to fall in the next three days could account for more than 25% of the precipitation needed to remedy current drought conditions. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where rain will quench drought the most.

To determine the cities where incoming rainstorms are projected to relieve drought the most, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed Quantitative Precipitation Forecast data from the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center and drought reduction estimates from the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Cities with at least 25,000 residents were ranked based on the total precipitation projected to fall from November 21 to November 24, 2024 as a percentage of the amount of precipitation needed to end current drought conditions within a month. Only cities with at least some amount of land in moderate to exceptional drought were included. Drought conditions are from the U.S. Drought Monitor and are current through November 18, 2024. Only the largest city in every county by population was considered.

25. Elizabeth, NJ

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (15.2% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 13.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 92.5%

 

24. Jersey City, NJ

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (15.2% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 13.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 83.0%

 

23. Newark, NJ

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (15.2% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 13.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 96.8%

 

22. New Haven, CT

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (15.3% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 11.4 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 93.0%

 

21. Pittsfield, MA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (15.3% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 11.4 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

20. Torrington, CT

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (15.7% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 11.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

19. New York, NY

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (15.9% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 12.5 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 63.5%

 

18. Nampa, ID

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 0.5 inches (16.2% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 3.1 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

17. Spokane, WA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.0 inches (16.2% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 6.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

16. Lewiston, ME

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (16.7% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 10.5 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 53.6%

 

15. Wenatchee, WA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 0.5 inches (17.0% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 2.9 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

14. Poughkeepsie, NY

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (17.1% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 10.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

13. Bridgeport, CT

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (17.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 11.4 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 86.5%

 

12. Medford, OR

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.8 inches (17.9% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 9.8 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

11. Bend, OR

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 0.8 inches (18.6% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 4.0 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

10. Pullman, WA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.3 inches (18.7% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 6.7 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

9. Paterson, NJ

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.5 inches (19.0% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 13.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

8. Yonkers, NY

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (19.6% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 10.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

7. Wilkes-Barre, PA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.0 inches (22.3% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 9.0 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

6. New City, NY

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.5 inches (24.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 10.2 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

5. Walla Walla, WA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 0.8 inches (25.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 2.9 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

4. Yakima, WA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 0.8 inches (25.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 2.9 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 88.7%

 

3. Grants Pass, OR

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.5 inches (25.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 9.8 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

2. Scranton, PA

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 2.5 inches (27.8% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 9.0 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

1. Boise City, ID

• Forecasted rainfall, November 21 to 24: 1.0 inches (32.5% of needed rainfall)
• Monthly rainfall needed to end drought: 3.1 inches
• Land area in moderate to exceptional drought: 100.0%

 

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