Drought — Northern Carroll, New Hampshire

2025-09-01 to 2025-09-30 · Northern Carroll, New Hampshire

Event narrative

Carroll County averaged 3.30 inches of precipitation in September, approximately half an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew to over 5 inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through September on record. Lake Winnipesaukee tied with 2001 on daily minimum water levels late in the month. The USDM on September 30th had 30% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 70% in Extreme Drought (D3) primarily located in the north sector.

Wider weather episode

The period from June through September 2025 saw a dramatic worsening of drought conditions across New Hampshire, establishing it as a historically severe event comparable or even worse than the 2001 drought. Despite some bookend rainfall in September, an extended stretch of warm, windy, and dry weather dominated, leading to rapid depletion of any moisture that fell. By September 30, the U.S. Drought Monitor classified nearly 83% of the state in at least Severe Drought (D2). The report classified 17.32% in Moderate Drought (D1), 49.87% in Severe Drought (D2), and 32.80% in Extreme Drought (D3) by area.

The July'September stretch was the driest on record, averaging only 6 inches of precipitation'approximately 50% of normal. This period also recorded the warmest high temperatures on record for the state, averaging 78.1 F (about 4 degrees above normal), accelerating evaporation and moisture loss.

The drought severely impacted multiple sectors across the state. Farmers suffered widespread crop losses, particularly affecting high-value crops like corn, hay, and apples. The drought caused critically low streamflows, with many reporting record low levels. A significant number of private wells ran dry, directly impacting households. Hydropower production was reduced due to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers. Increased fire danger from dry fuels and depleted soil moisture necessitated the frequent implementation of burn bans throughout the period. The severity of this event prompted the USDA to declare the area a natural disaster, allowing for federal assistance.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1295791. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.