(WHAM) – After weeks without any significant rainfall in the greater Rochester area, we have officially been declared ‘abnormally dry.’

According to data released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, nearly the entire state of New York is in the ‘abnormally dry’ state, which is one stage away from being in a ‘moderate drought.’

Last week at this time, roughly 53 percent of the state was abnormally dry. Now, nearly 100 percent of the state is under that status.

Under an abnormally dry state, there are several conditions that begin to show up in nature. The most obvious is one that most of us are talking about: lawns are browning early and gardens are wilting like a marshmallow over a campfire. Growth for crops is stunted and planting is delayed.

Among the more dangerous conditions is the raised risk of fires due to dry conditions.

Portions of the North Country and eastern counties have been upgraded to a ‘moderate’ drought status, which accounts for just over 22 percent of the state.