Drought Status Update for the Northeast

Rain Delivers Some Drought Relief Across New England and New York.

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

Key Points

Extreme drought (D3) continued for Boston and the north/south shore surrounding counties.
Geographic coverage of severe drought (D2) to abnormally dry conditions (D0) was only marginally reduced.

U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions: Northeast | September 20, 2022

U.S. Drought Monitor

Current U.S. Drought Monitor map for the Northeast Drought Early Warning System with data valid for September 20, 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:

Extreme drought (D3) conditions exist in 0.49% of the region.
Severe drought (D2) conditions exist in 11.86% of the region.
Moderate drought (D1) conditions exist in 15.38% of the region.
Abnormally dry (D0) conditions exist in 32.48% of the region.

Source(s): NDMC, NOAA, USDA

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

Last Updated: 09/20/22

15.38%

of the Northeast is in Moderate Drought (D1)

11.86%

of the Northeast is in Severe Drought (D2)

0.49%

of the Northeast is in Extreme Drought (D3)

Current Conditions

Accumulated Precipitation Departure from Normal

Precipitation deficits at locations across the Northeast were reduced as a result of Labor Day Weekend rain, but since then, those deficits have increased. — Departure from normal precipitation (inches) for Portland Area, ME (*blue*), Boston Area, MA* (*black*), Providence Area, RI (*light green*), Islip Area, NY (*orange*), Hartford Area, CT (*purple*), Worcester Area, MA (*red*), Albany Area, NY (*yellow*), and Binghamton Area, NY (*dark green*). Source ACIS.

Precipitation Totals and Departures
Area	Precipitation (in.) September 18–21	Departure (in.) Jan. 1– Sept. 17	Departure (in.) Jan. 1– Sept. 21
Burlington, VT	2.13	0.30	1.91
Portland, ME	1.60	-5.53	-4.46
Syracuse, NY	1.01	-2.81	-2.27
Worcester, MA	0.95	-1.79	-1.43
Concord, NH	0.87	-0.06	0.30
Albany, NY	0.78	-3.61	-3.36
Rochester, NY	0.64	-3.96	-3.76
Boston, MA	0.44	-10.89	-10.96
Buffalo, NY	0.34	-2.03	-2.31
Caribou, ME	0.21	1.65	1.39
Binghamton, NY	0.20	3.66	3.29
Hartford, CT	0.19	-0.53	-0.98
Central Park, NY	0.14	-4.74	-5.21
Bridgeport, CT	0.12	-5.83	-6.26
Providence, RI	0.08	-3.60	-4.11
LaGuardia Ap, NY	0.07	-1.96	-2.43
Kennedy Ap, NY	0.03	-7.01	-7.49
Islip, NY	0.01	-6.33	-6.83

State-Reported Impacts

New England

September 8, 2022: Bloomberg – New York to Maine Impacts
September 8, 2022: Associated Press – Spotty Fall Colors

Connecticut

September 13, 2022: Prime Publishers, Inc. – Aid to More Connecticut Farmers Sought
September 9th, 2022: NBC CT – Drought Impacts Apples and Pumpkins

Maine

September 14, 2022: The Ellsworth American – Winter Harbor Water Leak
September 14, 2022: The Ellsworth American – Shrinking Lake

Massachusetts

September 13, 2022: WBZ CBS News Boston – Apples vs. Pumpkins
September 13, 2022: CAI – A Good Year for Cranberries
September 13, 2022: Gloucester Daily Times – Some Residents Still Skirting Water Bans
September 3, 2022: Ipswich Local News – Is the Ipswich River Dead?

New Hampshire

September 12, 2022: New England Today – Fall Foliage 2022

New York

September 19, 2022: Cortland Standard – Fall Foliage
September 16, 2022: The Highlands Current – Residents of Cold Spring Village Still Need to Conserve Water
September 14, 2022: Star Gazette – Rockland County Lifts Water Emergency/Urges Residents to Continue to Conserve Water
September 15, 2022: Dan’s Papers – Long Island Drought Persists

Rhode Island

September 8, 2022: The Newport Daily News – Aquidneck Island Drinking Water

Vermont

September 17, 2022: Valley News – Cyanobacteria in Lake Morey
September 12, 2022: WCAX – Climate Migration

Outlooks

According to the Climate Prediction Center's 8–14 day outlook (valid September 29–October 5, 2022), odds favor near-normal precipitation and temperatures throughout the Northeast, except for the far-western edge of New York where below-normal precipitation is likely.
The week 3–4 outlook (valid October 1–14, 2022) favors below-normal precipitation across much of New York (except southern New York) and northwestern Vermont. The rest of the region has equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation. Odds favor above-normal temperatures across the Northeast.

8–14 Day Temperature Outlook

From September 29 to October 5, odds favor near-normal temperatures across the Northeast. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from September 29–October 5, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

8–14 Day Precipitation Outlook

From September 29 to October 5, odds favor near-normal precipitation across the Northeast. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from September 29–October 5. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Temperature Outlook Week 3–4

From October 1–14, 2022, odds favor above-normal temperatures for the entire Northeast. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from October 1–14, 2022. Issued September 16, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Precipitation Outlook Week 3–4

From October 1–14, 2022, there are equal chances of above- and below-normal precipitation in most of the Northeast. Odds favor below-normal conditions in northern and central New York and northwestern Vermont. — NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from October 1–14, 2022. Issued September 16, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Register for the Northeast DEWS Partners Meeting: Please register for the Northeast DEWS Partners Meeting to be held on November 1–2 in Glen Falls, New York at the Queensbury Hotel and Conference Center. This is the first in-person gathering of the Northeast Drought Early Warning System partners since 2017. This regional gathering will feature opportunities to share and discuss ongoing drought-related activities, learn about new and innovative drought research and resources, explore emerging issues and opportunities, and identify collaborative paths forward that advance drought early warning and preparedness in the region.

What We Are Watching

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Flow Photo Explorer at Avery Brook Bridge

Heavy rainfall increased the flow at Avery Brook from September 2 to 7. The flow was 0.24-0.26 cubic feet per second on September 2, and reached 6.77 cubic feet per second on September 6. — The flow at Avery Brook near Whately, MA (USGS gaging station 01171000) from September 2–7, 2022. The impacts of significant Labor Day rainfall can be seen. During this period, flow ranged from approximately 0.24 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 6.55 cfs. Source: USGS Flow Photo Explorer.

Featured Resources

Monthly Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) Averages from the Northeast Regional Climate Center
Drought Impacts Toolkit from the National Drought Mitigation Center
Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) are a part of the Drought Impacts Toolkit - Help Recruit CMOR Participants

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 September 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), CIRES

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

Ellen Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region, NOAA

David Hollinger
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 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.