With fire season in New Jersey now underway, the prolonged period of drought conditions across the state is slowly starting to ease up, following recent heavy rain and snow storms in parts of the state, according to the latest maps from the National Drought Mitigation Center.

According to the map, which is updated weekly, only the extreme southern portions of the state are experiencing an “extreme drought,” while the rest of the state, including most of Ocean County, is is one or two levels below.

The slight improvement comes just as the annual fire season is getting underway, with several fires already being reported in recent days, including in Lakewood and in Jackson.

“New Jersey experienced significant dryness this past fall, resulting in an extended wildfire season throughout the state in 2024 and providing a sobering reminder that we must be prepared for the spring wildfire season,” Governor Murphy said during a recent press conference. 

Unfortunately, the snowfall we have received this month has not been particularly beneficial. Given the very cold conditions, the snowpack has largely been evaporating directly into the air, rather than melting and slowly soaking into the ground over time.

In November, Governor Phil Murphy issued a drought warning advisory for New Jersey, to preserve the available water supplies throughout the state and avoid shortages. That remains in effect.

Spring is typically peak wildfire season in New Jersey. Between mid-March and mid-May, trees and underbrush are still leafing out, relative humidity is generally low, and windy days are common.

The combination of these factors means forested lands dry out quickly. Additionally, porous sandy soils in the vast Pinelands region of southern New Jersey do not retain moisture for long, exacerbating drying and making it possible for a fire to spark only hours after rainfall.