Northeast Drought Update

Posted June 5, 2025

U.S. Drought Monitor

The easing of drought and abnormal dryness continued this week in the Northeast. Severe drought was erased from the Northeast, and Maryland, for the first time since June 2024. Moderate drought persisted in southeastern Massachusetts but contracted in the Mid-Atlantic, being confined to only a small area in central Maryland (with a sliver extending into neighboring southern Pennsylvania). West Virginia became drought free for the first time since June 2024. Abnormal dryness also eased in parts of southeastern New York and the Mid-Atlantic, with Delaware becoming free of both drought and abnormal dryness for the first time since May 2024. The U.S. Drought Monitor released on June 5 showed 0% of the Northeast in severe drought, 1% in moderate drought, and 6% as abnormally dry compared to less than 1%, 5%, and 7%, respectively, last week.

For more information on drought in NY & New England see the Northeast DEWS Dashboard and to learn more about assessing drought in the United States watch this video.

Precipitation

Total precipitation for the last week.

Percent of normal precipitation for the last 30-day and 90-day periods.

Percent of normal precipitation for the last 6-month and 1-year periods.

Water Resources

As of June 3, USGS 7-day streamflow ranged from normal to record high for most of the Northeast. However, below normal or lower streamflows were found in a few places including southern Delaware, southern New Jersey, and southeastern New York. USGS groundwater levels as of June 3 ranged from record low in a few places like central Maryland and southern New Jersey to record high in multiple locations throughout the Northeast, with most wells registering normal or higher levels.

7-day average streamflow compared to historical streamflow from USGS WaterWatch

A network of wells to monitor the effects of droughts & other climate variability on groundwater levels. USGS Groundwater Data

State Declarations

Outlooks

Seven-day precipitation amounts are forecast to range from half an inch to over three inches. An unsettled weather pattern will bring rain and chances for storms almost every day of the forecast period.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 8-14 day outlook for June 12-18 favors above-normal temperatures for the entire region. The outlook slightly favors above-normal precipitation for a large portion of West Virginia and southern Maryland, slightly favors below-normal precipitation for a northern portion of the region including New England and most of New York, and favors near-normal precipitation for areas in between.