Ashtyn Asay New Jersey’s statewide drought warning is officially over. On Thursday, October 1st, the Sherrill administration announced that the state’s drought warning, which had been in place since December 5th, 2025, was lifted following above-average rainfall throughout the summer and early fall. Most of New Jersey will return to normal conditions, while the Coastal South region will move from a drought warning to a drought watch. The change comes after most counties received above-normal precipitation over the past 90 days. Keep reading to learn more.
What’s Changed?
The state initially issued a drought watch in October 2025, which was later upgraded to a statewide drought warning in December. That warning has now been lifted following a stretch of above-average rainfall across the Garden State. While New Jersey experienced precipitation deficits during 25 of the past 30 months, July, August, and September brought above-average rainfall. Over the past 90 days, most New Jersey counties received between 5.5 and 9.5 inches more precipitation than normal, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
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However, officials are still monitoring the Coastal South region, which includes all of Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties, as well as portions of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties. The area will remain under a drought watch because it has been slower to recover than other parts of the state, and its porous geology means that large amounts of rainfall are needed to replenish underground aquifers.
Even though conditions have improved, the NJDEP is encouraging residents to continue practicing water conservation to help protect supplies and reduce the risk of future drought conditions. The state’s latest update is a positive sign for New Jersey’s water supply, but officials say continued conservation is important, particularly in the Coastal South region.
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