Drought — Androscoggin, Maine

2025-11-01 to 2025-11-30 · Androscoggin, Maine

Event narrative

Androscoggin County averaged 2.28 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 4th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, the county was under Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with local farmers and residents facing significant water and feed shortages. The USDM on November 25th had 95% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 5% in Extreme Drought (D3) located in the northern sector. On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Androscoggin County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. The agricultural sector in Androscoggin County, particularly around the Turner and Auburn areas, saw dramatic yield reductions. Many dairy and beef farmers in the county were forced to either purchase expensive out-of-state supplemental feed or reduce their herd sizes before the winter freeze. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Androscoggin was among the top six counties for reported dry wells. Many rural residents with shallow or dug wells lost water entirely. By late November, water storage in the Androscoggin River system was recorded at 52.8% capacity, which was 11.1% below the long-term average.

Wider weather episode

November 2025 brought modest improvements to Maine'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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1300348. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.