New York City New Year’s fireworks dimmed for 2024

On December 17, 2024By Littum

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New York City’s beloved New Year’s Eve fireworks display over Central Park and Prospect Park will go dark this year. An ongoing drought and an unprecedented spate of recent brush fires have forced the city to cancel these iconic displays, marking a dramatic shift in how the Big Apple will ring in the New Year.

From Digital Meteorologist Jonathan Belles: “The tri-state area is experiencing severe drought conditions for the first time in two years, while parts of Massachusetts and the Mid-Atlantic are experiencing drought conditions one notch worse, an extreme drought intensity. The extreme drought area includes other major cities such as Boston and Philadelphia.

New York may get modest help in the rain department before the new year begins, but not enough to make a serious dent in the ongoing drought.”

Last month, the FDNY saw fighting more than 270 brush fires in just two weeks, the highest two-week figure ever recorded in NYC. Those flames destroyed some of the city’s most popular green spaces and left concerns that fireworks will be too risky to allow.

However, the city does not leave revelers completely in the dark. In Prospect Parkorganizers are considering fire-safe alternatives, like a groundbreaking drone light show.

However, the Hudson River fireworks display near the Statue of Liberty will continue as planned.

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