Northeast News
Locally Intensifying Conditions
The U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, October 29 showed drought and/or abnormally dry conditions expand in a few parts of the Northeast but improve slightly in coastal Maine over the past week. There were generally limited changes elsewhere in the region.
- Extreme drought contracted in coastal Maine.
- Severe drought expanded in central Maine.
- Abnormal dryness central and northern New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, and the northern half of New Jersey.
- Record-low seven-day streamflow was found in places like Maine, northern Vermont, and central New York.
- Groundwater levels were record low in several areas including Maine, southeastern Massachusetts, central and western New York, southern New Jersey, and central and southern Maryland.
- The short-term outlooks for November 3-11 predict above-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures for most of the Northeast, conditions that would be expected to pause deterioration or potentially bring improvements to a few locations.
Latest from the NRCC
Climate summaries, outlooks, and news for the Northeast.
October Kicks Off with Warm Weather
Temperatures were warmer than normal during the first half of October for most of the Northeast, ranking among the 20 warmest such periods on record for 20 major sites. Precipitation amounts ranged from less than 25% of normal to over 200% of normal, allowing drought to intensify in some areas and improve in others. It was among the 20 wettest starts to October for seven major sites.
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The ABCs of September
It was quite wet for portions of the Mid-Atlantic, southeastern New York, and southern New England, with Islip, NY, having its wettest September on record. This wetness allowed drought to improve. However, parts of northern New England and upstate New York were drier, with Caribou, ME, having its fifth-driest September. This dryness allowed drought and abnormal dryness to expand. While New England was cooler than normal by as much as 2°F, much of the rest of the Northeast was warmer than normal, with the greatest departures approaching 6°F above normal.
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NY Streamflow/Groundwater Drought Forecast Tool
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Sector-specific decision tools built on NRCC climate data.