Drought — Sullivan, New Hampshire

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

Event narrative

Sullivan County averaged 2.34 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch and a half below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 5 inches, making it the 8th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, Sullivan County was primarily classified under Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with nearly 92% of the county's population affected. The USDM on November 25th had 45% of the county in Abnormally Dry (D0) and 32% in Moderate Drought (D1) located in the southern sector. As one of the major water bodies in the county, Lake Sunapee experienced low inflows throughout November. Dam outflows were limited to stabilize lake levels, which remained near or below winter drawdown targets. The Sugar River and other smaller tributaries saw flows drop to the 10th'20th percentile for the month, impacting local aquatic habitats.

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 1300347. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.