Drought — Southeast Aroostook, Maine

2025-11-01 to 2025-11-03 · Southeast Aroostook, Maine

Event narrative

A lack of rainfall in Southeastern Aroostook led to prolonged drying conditions in November. Conditions began as mostly Severe Drought (D2) in late October, and improved to Moderate Drought (D1) by early-November.

Wider weather episode

Drought in northern and central Maine persisted throughout November, as precipitation deficits continued and/or worsened throughout the month. Overall, northern and eastern Maine generally had a 0.5-2 inch precipitation deficit by the end of November, with northern Maine reporting around 2-3 inches of rain throughout the month, and central and Downeast Maine reporting about 3-4 inches of rain. There was not any significant severe weather to alleviate drought conditions throughout the month. At the end of October, portions of northern Somerset, northwestern Aroostook, central Aroostook and northern Penobscot, were in moderate drought. Portions of central and southern Aroostook, northern and central Penobscot, Piscataquis, and northern Somerset all became, or maintained, severe drought. The Bangor region, Hancock, and Washington county all recorded Extreme Drought. On November 4th, northeastern Aroostook county degraded into Severe Drought, and portions of central Piscataquis, central Penobscot, and southeastern Aroostook improved to Moderate Drought. By November 11th, far north western Aroostook degraded to Severe Drought, but the swath of improved conditions in central Maine expanded into southern Piscataquis. Northern and central Washington county, along with northern Hancock county, improved from Extreme drought to Severe Drought. November 18th, All of Hancock, Washington, and the Bangor region, improved to Severe Drought. On November 25th, central Penobscot, northern Hancock, and portions of western Washington improved to Moderate Drought. By the end of the month, northern Somerset, northwestern and central Aroostook, northern Piscataquis, Bangor region, and portions of Hancock and Washington counties, were included in severe drought. Overall, drought conditions deteriorated in the Crown of Maine, but the rest of northern, central, and Downeast Maine improved. Hydrological impacts include dry well reports. There was some improvement in lake, pond, river and stream levels. As of October, this drought officially became the worst drought in Maine since 2002. Impacts from this drought include dry well reports throughout the state, with most occurring in the Downeast region.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1297036. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.