Northeast News

Extreme Drought Introduced in Coastal Areas
The U.S. Drought Monitor released on Thursday, June 11 showed drought and/or abnormally dry conditions intensify in multiple parts of the Northeast after a warm, dry week. This deterioration was primarily focused along a path from Maryland to Massachusetts. However, drought improved in a small portion of eastern West Virginia. There were generally limited changes elsewhere in the Northeast.

• Extreme drought was introduced in parts of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey.
• As of June 9, 43.78% of Delaware was in extreme drought, its highest such coverage since August 13, 2002.
• Severe drought and/or moderate drought grew in parts of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and southern New England.
• Abnormal dryness increased in coverage in eastern New York.
• Record-low seven-day streamflow was found along a path from Maryland to Massachusetts and in eastern Maine.
• Groundwater levels were record low in several areas including parts of Maryland, southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, eastern New York, southern Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and southern Maine.
• Growers in parts of West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware noted drought-related impacts like reduced hay yields, early use of irrigation, poor pasture conditions, and drought-stressed crops.
• The short-term outlooks for June 16-20 predict above-normal precipitation and below- or near-normal temperatures for the Northeast, conditions that could pause deterioration or potentially bring improvements to a few locations.

For more information, see the Northeast DEWS Dashboard (to see the full Northeast, click on the grayed-out Pennsylvania in the map in the top left) and the Northeast Drought Update. Submit drought impact reports via the Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) page.

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