By Associated Press - Thursday, May 14, 2015

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - The U.S. Drought Monitor says more than half of New Jersey is considered abnormally dry, including Monmouth County and parts of northern Ocean County.

A New Jersey state climatologist tells the Asbury Park Press (https://on.app.com/1Fb4R5J) the state has no “cushion” in groundwater, stream flow, or soil moisture, due in large part because of the lack of rain over the last couple months.

He says the state’s main concern is wildfires.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has set the fire danger to high in Monmouth and Ocean counties and very high in Atlantic, Camden and other southern counties. The National Weather Service also issued a red flag warning for wildfire risks Wednesday.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for some chances of showers and thunderstorms in the next week.

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Information from: Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, https://www.app.com

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