A drought watch has been ordered for northern and central New Jersey.
The state Department of Environmental Protection issued the drought watch on Monday.
The advisory covers Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
Officials say the purpose of the watch is to encourage residents to voluntarily conserve water and suggest watering lawns and landscaping only twice a week for 30 minutes in either the morning or late evening.
Precipitation over the last 90 days has been 40 percent below average in the northern parts of the state.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
