Drought Status Update for the Northeast

Earth Day Edition: Drought Conditions Improve in the Northeast Drought Early Warning System.

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

Key Points

Since the March 22 update, Severe Drought (D2) areas have improved to Moderate Drought (D1) in northwestern Maine.
Abnormally Dry conditions (D0) were reduced in areal coverage in parts of Maine, Vermont, and northern New Hampshire and eliminated in southeast New York.

U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions: Northeast | April 19, 2022

U.S. Drought Monitor

Current U.S. Drought Monitor map for the Northeast Drought Early Warning System with data valid for April 19, 2022. 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:

Moderate drought (D1) conditions exist in 1.69% of the region.
Abnormally dry (D0) conditions exist in 5.68% of the region.

Source(s): NDMC, NOAA, USDA

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

Last Updated: 04/19/22

1.7%

of the Northeast is in Moderate Drought (D1)

5.7%

of the Northeast is Abnormally Dry (D0)

Current Conditions

U.S. Drought Monitor 4-Week Change Map

4-week U.S. Drought Monitor change map, showing where drought has improved or worsened from March 22 to April 19, 2022. — U.S. Drought Monitor change map, showing where drought and dryness have improved or worsened from March 22–April 19, 2022. Source: National Drought Mitigation Center.

Accumulated Precipitation Departure from Normal

Accumulated precipitation departures from normal from October 2021 through mid-April 2022 for three locations in the Northeast: Rangeley, ME (blue), Saint Johnsbury Asos, VT (green), New York - Central Park Area, NY (orange), and First Connecticut Lake, NH (black). — Departure from normal precipitation (inches) for Rangeley, ME (*blue*), First Connecticut Lake, NH (*black*), Saint Johnsbury, VT (*green*), and New York - Central Park Area, NY (*orange*). Source: ACIS.

Snow Water Equivalent (Inches)

Animation: 2022 U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions in the Northeast

Animation of a time series, map, and statistics showing the progression of drought across the Northeast from January 4 to April 19, 2022, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Northeast DEWS began 2022 with 3.63% of the region in D1-D2. By April 19, D2 has been removed from the region, and 1.69% is in D1. — Animation showing the progression of drought across the Northeast in 2022 so far (through April 19, 2022), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Explore more historical drought conditions.

What We Are Watching

Evapotranspiration (ET)

Average daily potential evapotranspiration (ET) increases rapidly at stations across the Northeast in May and June, as indicated by the steep slope of the accumulated ET curves (see figure below). During May and June, these stations see between 7 and 8 inches of ET compared to only 3–4 inches in March and April. With the increased ET, a given amount of rainfall is less effective at replenishing soil moisture and surface reservoirs.

Time series of accumulated potential evapotranspiration (in inches) for New York City, Buffalo, Boston, and Caribou, ME. — Accumulated potential evapotranspiration from January through August for four locations in the Northeast: New York City (*blue*), Boston (*orange*), Buffalo (*green*), and Caribou, ME (*yellow*).

State-Reported Impacts

Maine

April 15, 2022: Governor Mills Proclaims April 17–April 23 Wildfire Awareness Week in Maine

New Hampshire

April 12, 2022: Wildfire Season Reaches New Hampshire, New Hampshire Bulletin

New York

April 19, 2022: Recent Statewide Forest Ranger Actions, New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

Outlooks

According to the Climate Prediction Center's 8–14 day outlook (valid April 29–May 5), the entire Northeast is more likely to see below-normal temperatures. Odds favor below-normal precipitation for western New York into northwestern Pennsylvania, with near-normal conditions favored across the rest of the region.
The week 3–4 outlooks (valid April 30–May 13) favor equal chances of above-, below-, and near-normal temperature and precipitation across the Northeast.

8–14 Day Temperature Outlook

8–14 Day Precipitation Outlook

Temperature Outlook Week 3–4

Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 temperature outlook for the U.S., from April 30–May 13, 2022. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from April 30–May 13, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Precipitation Outlook Week 3–4

Climate Prediction Center week 3-4 precipitation outlook for the U.S., from April 30–May 13, 202. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from April 30–May 13, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Additional Resources

Northeast DEWS Dashboard
New York and New England Snow Survey Map
VIC Soil Moisture
New NRCC SPI Maps
Your local National Weather Service office
NOAA Regional Climate Services Monthly Webinar Series (next webinar is on April 28)
USDA Northeast Climate Hub
USGS New England and New York Water Science Centers

Use these sites to keep tabs on drought degradation and improvements in the areas outside of the NE DEWS borders:

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
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.