The Daily Freeman and the Associated Press are reporting the ongoing drought in the Northeastern United States is expected to continue through February. Conditions in the Mid-Hudson region currently range from severe to extreme drought. A portion of Greene County, and an even larger part of Columbia County are experiencing severe drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Approximately half of Ulster and Orange counties, and most of Dutchess County are suffering from extreme drought. The long-running dry spell is the worst in more than a decade, and has resulted in water restrictions in many places, has dried up drinking wells and dropped lake levels. Dave Miskus, a drought expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said it will be difficult for the Northeast to make up the current 8- to 12-inch deficit in rain this winter. There have been some good storms lately, but the winter precipitation forecast remains unclear, Miskus said. It also remains unclear how much snow will fall in the region during the coming months. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.