Drought — Belknap, New Hampshire

2025-11-01 to 2025-11-30 · Belknap, New Hampshire

Event narrative

Belknap County averaged 2.12 inches of precipitation in November, which is nearly 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew close to 7 inches, making it the 2nd driest stretch between July through November on record, the driest being 1922. Lake Winnipesauke neared all-time daily low levels comparable to the 2016 drought before seeing slight recovery in the final week. The low water levels reduced flows on the Winnipesaukee River, impacting downstream communities' water supply in Tilton. The USDM on November 25th had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Belknap County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area (alongside Carroll and Coos counties).

Wider weather episode

November 2025 brought modest improvements to New Hampshire's drought conditions, primarily driven by the transition into cooler weather and a significant reduction in vegetative water demand. While soil moisture levels showed the most notable gains, the region's hydrological recovery was hindered by another month of below-normal precipitation. Consequently, despite some localized relief, a large area of severe drought persisted, and streamflows and groundwater levels continued to struggle.

The arrival of wintry weather and colder air introduced the season's first widespread snowfall, with most of the state recording at least an inch and higher accumulations in the mountains. However, actual precipitation fell short of expectations; coastal regions received only 50-60% of their normal totals, while only the mountainous areas saw near or above-average moisture. Although there were broad improvements in the extent of extreme drought throughout the month, substantial long-term deficits remain. While November brought some surface-level relief from rainfall and early snow, groundwater levels remained below normal to much below normal. Because groundwater recharges more slowly than surface water, many private wells remained dry or critically low. It was estimated that an additional 6 to 12 inches of precipitation was still required to fully restore soil moisture and replenish depleted groundwater reserves.

In response to widespread dry well reports, the state reopened the Emergency Drought Assistance Program (EDAP) in November 2025. State officials reported that by November, over 250 residents statewide had officially reported dry wells, with a high concentration in the Seacoast and Mid-State regions. Shallow dug wells were the most affected, as they were unable to reach the receding water table.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300333. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.