New York Mayor Eric Adams is urging residents to conserve water as the city faces one of its driest Octobers on record, with only 0.2 mm of rain in Central Park compared to an average of 112 mm. This plea follows a severe drought warning that is part of a four-level alert system for New York State. Additionally, a leaking aqueduct affecting water supply adds to the urgency. Experts attribute the drought to unusual weather patterns restricting moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, leaving nearly half the country impacted by dryness.