Despite the recent deluge of rain, a significant drought has been declared for most of Massachusetts, with state officials urging residents to abide by local water restrictions and be aware of outdoor wildfire risks.
“Although the spring and early summer months brought some much-needed rainfall, which helped bring many regions out of drought, below-normal rainfall over the last three months has quickly moved these regions back into a significant drought,” said Rebecca Tepper, the state’s secretary of energy and environmental affairs. “August was notably dry in Massachusetts, with most areas observing 1 to 2 inches or more below-normal rainfall.”
Three-month precipitation deficits remain widespread, with much of the state receiving only 40 to 80 percent of normal rainfall, officials said. Until now, Cape Cod was previously the only region in Massachusetts experiencing significant drought.
“This is the time of year when we’re naturally in a negative water balance,” said David Boutt, professor of hydrogeology at UMass Amherst. “The combination of growing season and more evaporation than precipitation is when drought can rapidly onset, and we’re seeing this unfold.”
This past weekend’s rainfall, as much as 2 to 3 inches in some areas, has not been enough to pull New England out of drought.
A look at soil moisture across Southern New England with 100 percent being “normal.”Boston Globe
Streambeds are dry, and while groundwater levels are mostly normal across the region they “are quickly declining,” Tepper said, especially on Cape Cod and Nantucket.
Stream flow levels are below normal across many areas in New England.USGS
Under a “significant drought” designation, officials urge communities to restrict nonessential outdoor watering, such as washing sidewalks, patios, driveways, and vehicles, and limiting outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans between 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Last week, the US Drought Monitor said the Cape and northern parts of the state, including the North Shore, were experiencing “moderate drought.”
Drought conditions have been worse in northern New England, where much of New Hampshire and Maine, as well as parts of Vermont, have been experiencing severe drought for the past several weeks.
The latest US Drought Monitor shows extensive drought plaguing Northern New England and expanding into Massachusetts.Boston Globe
“We’re seeing water storage anomalies approach the peak of last year’s deficit,” said Boutt.
Should this stretch of exceptionally dry weather continue, the risk of wildland and brush fires across New England increases as there is plenty of vegetation available, and soon-to-be falling leaves, to combust.
Marianne Mizera can be reached at marianne.mizera@globe.com. Follow her @MareMizera. Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.