Syracuse, N.Y. -- The area of New York state considered to be in "extreme drought" has doubled since last week.

About 10 percent of the state, in a swath from Western New York through the Finger Lakes, is in extreme drought, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center's weekly report issued this morning.

The area of New York state considered in extreme drought (red) has doubled from last week. Orange represents severe drought; tan is moderate; yellow is abnormally dry.

That's the highest percentage since the drought center began compiling data in 2000.

Last week, 5 percent of the state was in extreme drought.

An extreme drought, the center said, means that there have been "major crop/pasture losses" and "widespread water shortages or restrictions."

The new report says 86 percent of the state is either abnormally dry or in some level of drought. The Climate Prediction Center expects the drought to last through November.

On Aug. 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated 15 New York counties as primary natural disaster areas because of the drought, making the farms in them eligible for assistance.

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