Drought Early Warning Update for the Northeast

Autumn Approaches with Little Drought in Sight

For more information, visit the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Key Points

Moderate Drought (D1) and some surrounding Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions remain in western New York. Lingering Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions also remain in portions of western Long Island.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the New England states are free of drought and abnormal dryness.
Since mid-July, some farming communities have experienced “weather whiplash” with only a few weeks between a need for irrigation and too much rain.
Some agricultural interests are now in need of warmer and drier conditions for harvest efforts.
Rain is expected throughout the region for the rest of this week, so streamflows and remaining dryness should improve in most locations.
As we move toward the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season in mid-September, Northeast states should monitor the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook from the National Hurricane Center. Currently, a seasonally typical increase in activity has begun.

U.S. Drought Monitor | Northeast

This Week

Current U.S. Drought Monitor map for the Northeast Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) with data valid for August 22, 2023.

The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country using 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).

Source(s): NDMC, NOAA, USDA

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

Data valid: 08/22/23

Learn More

Current Conditions

Real-Time Streamflow Conditions

As of August 22, real-time streamflows are near to above normal across much of the Northeast. — Realt-time streamflow conditions at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in the Northeast, compared to historical conditions for the same day of the year. Valid August 25, 2023. Source: U.S. Geological Survey.

Groundwater Levels

With a few sites trending down in western New York and the Massachusetts Cape and Islands, it will be important to keep an eye on groundwater status throughout the late summer and early fall.

Groundwater Percentiles

Interactive groundwater percentile graphs have been added to the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

They are accessible through the station popups on the Groundwater Status map. The groundwater percentile graphs are a product of the Northeast DEWS, based on data retrieved from the USGS REST Web Service.

aaa — Groundwater timeseries for Belmont, NY showing depth to water level (feet below land surface) from September 1, 2022 to the present. The time series of measurements provided on the graph for the past year consists of both approved, quality-assured data (black dots) and provisional data (gray dots). The thin dotted line indicates the median, based on the period 1926–2023. The accuracy of provisional data has not been verified by the USGS. For additional information, please see the "about this product" tab on each graph. Source: U.S. Geological Survey, via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

State-Reported Conditions and Impacts

Connecticut

Connecticut Drought Information Center
Impacts:
- July 21, 2023: GreenWire – A Flip Flop to Floods after Drought
- July 17, 2023: Mirror – Drought to Deluge

Maine

Maine Drought Task Force

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force
Impacts:
- August 20, 2023: Sentinel and Enterprise – EPA River Report for 2022: Challenges of Extreme Drought
- August 9, 2023: The Eagle Tribune – Weather Whiplash
- August 4, 2023: The Greenfield Recorder – 2006 to 2023 Weather Whiplash
- August 4, 2023: The Boston Globe – Weather Extremes And The Ecosystem

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services: Drought

New York

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Drought
Impacts:
- August 19, 2023: The Daily News – Sen. Gillibrand Announces $2Million Funding For Genesee Water Project
- August 3, 2023: Suffolk Times – Water Authority Announces Stage 1 Water Emergency
- August 3, 2023: The Daily Gazette – Albany’s Wettest July On Record - More Weather Whiplash

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Water Resources Board: Drought Management Program

Vermont

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation: Drought and Other Hazards

Northeast

August 5, 2023: NBC10 Boston – Snow Drought
August 3, 2023: Syracuse.com – 1930s Drought In Syracuse

International Drought Perspective

August 23, 2023: Climatewire – Many Drought Deaths Can Be Prevented

Find additional impacts through the National Drought Mitigation Center’s Drought Impact Reporter.

Visit the new Drought.gov state pages for additional maps and resources. Or, find local drought information by address, city or zip code on Drought.gov.

Outlooks

8–14 Day Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks: September 1–7, 2023

Southern New York (including Long Island) and the southern coast of New England can expect below-normal temperatures for this period. The rest of the region can expect near-normal temperatures.

From September 1 to 7, southern New York (including Long Island) and the southern coast of New England can expect below- normal temperatures. — 8–14 day temperature outlook, showing the probability (percent chance) of above-, below-, or near-normal temperatures across the Northeast from September 1–7, 2023. Issued August 24, 2023. Source: Climate Prediction Center via Drought.gov.

Near-normal precipitation is probable for Maine and the northern portions of New Hampshire and Vermont. Most of New York state and the rest of New England have probabilities leaning slightly toward below-normal precipitation.

From September 1 to 7, near-normal precipitation is favorable for Maine and the northern portions of Vermont and New Hampshire. Odds slightly favor below-normal precipitation for most of New York state and the rest of New England. — 8–14 day precipitation outlook, showing the probability (percent chance) of above-, below-, or near-normal temperatures across the Northeast from September 1–7, 2023. Issued August 24, 2023. Source: Climate Prediction Center via Drought.gov.

Week 3–4 Temperature and Precipitation Outlooks: September 2–15, 2023 (Issued August 18, 2023)

There are equal chances for above- or below-normal temperatures and precipitation during this period (September 2–15, 2023).

For September 2 through 15, there are equal chances for above or below normal temperatures across the Northeast. — Week 3–4 temperature outlook, showing the probability (percent chance) of above- or below-normal temperatures across the U.S. from September 2–15. Issued August 18, 2023. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

For September 2 through 15, there are equal chances for above or below normal precipitation across the Northeast. — Week 3–4 precipitation outlook, showing the probability (percent chance) of above- or below-normal precipitation across the U.S. from September 2–15. Issued August 18, 2023. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook: August 17–November 30

Drought conditions in western New York are likely to be removed over the next few months. Drought development is not expected.

From August 17 to November 30, drought removal is predicted in New York. — Seasonal drought outlook, showing where drought is predicted to develop, persist, improve, or be removed across the Northeast. Source: NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, via Drought.gov.

For More Information

Featured Research

Global and Regional Snow Cover Decline:2000-2023 from Stephen S. Young of Salem State University
Regional (including the Northeast) and Demographic Increases of Respiratory Mortality During Drought from the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Featured Resources

2nd National Flash Drought Workshop Recordings Available

Join the NIDIS Tribal Engagement Listserv

NIDIS is reviving our Tribal Engagement listserv with the plan to use it to send you relevant information on drought, water, and climate-related meetings/workshops, funding opportunities, and tools and resources.

Drought.gov State Pages

Have you been to your state’s drought information page recently? Contact Sylvia Reeves if you have specific suggestions for links to drought -elated information for any of the Northeast DEWS states.

Special Announcements

NIDIS and Partners at the 104th AMS Annual Meeting: January 28–February 1, 2024
NOAA’s National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) FY24 Funding Opportunity
- NOAA's National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) has released an FY2024 Funding Opportunity and is seeking applications for two individual competitions. These two competitions are to expand the creation and implementation of actionable, place-based climate information for community heat resilience. This funding opportunity was made available through funds appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Full applications are due on Monday, October 16, 2023. at 5 p.m. ET.

Additional Resources

Look back at previous Northeast DEWS Drought Status Updates
Your local National Weather Service office
NOAA Regional Climate Services Monthly Webinar Series (next webinar is on August 31)
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), CIRES

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

Ellen Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region, NOAA

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 status 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 status updates as conditions evolve.