Drought Early Warning Update for the Northeast

Above-Normal Temperatures Overcome Spotty Precipitation in Most of the Region.

For more details, see the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.

Key Points

Severe Drought (D2) expanded in Maine and New Hampshire
Moderate Drought (D1) expanded westward in Vermont.
Moderate Drought (D1) and Abnormally Dry Conditions (D0) held on in northern and western New York.

U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions: Northeast | June 29, 2021

U.S. Drought Monitor

Current U.S. Drought Monitor map for the Northeast Drought Early Warning System with data valid for June 29, 2021. The U.S. Drought Monitor is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country.

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor:

Severe drought (D2) exists in 6.3% of the region.
Moderate drought (D1) conditions exist in 29.4% of the region.

Source(s): NDMC, NOAA, USDA

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

Last Updated: 06/29/21

6.3%

of the Northeast is in Severe Drought (D2)

29.4%

of the Northeast is in Moderate Drought (D1)

30.2%

of the Northeast is Abnormally Dry (D0)

Current Conditions

7-Day Average Streamflows

Streamflows are below average across much of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and western Connecticut, Massachusetts, and areas in New York. Some waterways in Maine are setting daily low streamflow records.

7-day average streamflow conditions for the Northeast U.S. as of July 1, 2021. — 7-day average streamflow conditions across the Northeast. Source: USGS WaterWatch via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Annual Precipitation Departure from Normal

January - June 2021 departure from normal precipitation for Portland Area, ME, Concord Area, NH, Burlington Area, VT, and Buffalo Area, NY. — Year-to-date departure from normal precipitation for the Portland Area, ME (*blue*), Concord Area, NH (*black*), Burlington Area, VT (*green*), and Buffalo Area, NY (*orange*). Source: ACIS.

June 30 High Temperature Anomalies

Portland, Maine, reached a high of 95°F. The site recorded three consecutive days of 95°F or higher for the first time in June, tying its all-time streak.
Boston, Massachusetts, had a high of 100°F, tying as the site’s hottest June day on record. The most recent occurrence was in 1952.
LaGuardia Airport, New York, recorded a high of 100°F for only the fourth time in June on record, tying as the site’s third hottest June day.
Concord, New Hampshire had 9 days above 90°F this June, breaking the record of 8 days set in 1997.

State-Reported Impacts

Sign Up for U.S. Drought Monitor Alerts

Outlooks

The 8-14 day outlook indicates above-normal temperatures for the region. Above-normal precipitation is favored for western Massachusetts and Connecticut and much of New York. Normal precipitation is favored for the rest of the region.
The 3-4 week outlook favors above-normal temperatures across the Northeast and equal precipitation chances for the region.

Temperature Outlook 8-14 Day

Climate Prediction Center 8-14 day temperature outlook for the Northeast from July 8-14, 2021. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8-14 day temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from July 8-14, 2021. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Precipitation Outlook 8-14 Day

Climate Predication Center 8-14 day precipitation outlook for the Northeast, for July 8-14, 2021. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8-14 day precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from July 8-14, 2021. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Temperature Outlook Week 3-4

NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 temperature outlook for the Northeast U.S. Above normal temperatures are projected across the country — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from July 10-23, 2021. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Precipitation Outlook Week 3-4

NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 precipitation outlook for the Northeast U.S. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from July 10-23, 2021. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Additional Resources

Northeast DEWS Dashboard
NOAA Regional Climate Services
Your local National Weather Service office
NOAA Regional Climate Services Monthly Webinar Series (next webinar is on July 29)
USDA Northeast Climate Hub
USGS New England and New York Water Science Centers

Contacts for More Information

Sylvia Reeves
Regional Drought Information Coordinator (Northeast DEWS)
NOAA/CIRES/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
Email: sylvia.reeves@noaa.gov

Ellen L. Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region
NOAA/NESDIS/National Centers for Environmental Information
Email: Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov

Prepared By

Sylvia Reeves
NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

Samantha Borisoff, Jessica Spaccio, Keith Eggleston, Art DeGaetano
Northeast Regional Climate Center

Ellen Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region, NOAA

David Hollinger and Maria Janowiak
USDA Climate Hubs

Gardner Bent
USGS/New England Water Science Center

In partnership with National Weather Service Offices of the Northeast and State Climate Offices of the Northeast.

Special Thanks

This drought early warning update is issued in partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to communicate concern for drought expansion and intensification within the Northeast U.S. based on recent conditions and the forecasts and outlooks. NIDIS and its partners will issue future Drought Early Warning Updates as conditions evolve.