Long Island still in moderate drought, according to U.S. Drought Monitor

Long Island continues to be in the moderate drought category, according to Thursday morning's update of the U.S. Drought Monitor.

"Only minor precipitation accumulations" were seen in the Northeast's abnormally dry areas, the monitor said in its weekly summary. The weekly update, released on Thursdays, is based on data as of Tuesdays.

Though more recent rainfall amounts on Long Island have not been dramatically below normal, the area still has to make up for April's 2.68-inch deficit and May's record-breaking 3.36-inch deficit, said Jessica Spaccio, climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center based at Cornell University.

June saw 4.05 inches of rain, .22 below the norm, at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, and so far July has recorded 1.41 inches, .83 below the norm, according to regional center data.

The Island was first deemed to be in moderate drought, the least intense of the monitor's four drought categories, in the third week of May.

As of Thursday morning's forecast, no soaking rain event was expected for the coming days, the National Weather Service said.