Drought — Knox, Maine

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

Event narrative

Knox County averaged 2.82 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch 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 experiencing Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with some eastern coastal areas occasionally reaching Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 250th had 80% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 20% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Knox County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area (alongside Hancock, Waldo, and Washington counties). Approximately 3,949 acres of hay and 1,296 acres of haylage in Knox County were severely impacted. The lack of a late-season harvest forced many farmers to begin feeding their winter hay stocks months ahead of schedule. An estimated 586 cattle and 689 sheep in the county were directly affected by the drought. Producers reported increased costs for hauling water and purchasing supplemental feed as local pastures turned brown and dormant. While light rain and early snow provided some surface-level moisture, the groundwater drought persisted. Many private well owners in the Midcoast region reported dry wells, particularly in coastal areas where shallow wells are common.

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 1300359. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.