Drought — Sagadahoc, Maine

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

Event narrative

Sagadahoc County averaged 2.39 inches of precipitation in November, almost 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 7 inches, making it the 2nd driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-to-late November, 100% of the county's population was living in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. There was some improvement late in the month, with the USDM on November 25th classifying 35% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 65% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA issued a natural disaster declaration for Maine. While Sagadahoc was not a primary county, it was officially designated as a Contiguous Eligible County. Approximately 2,843 acres of hay and 1,177 acres of haylage within the county were affected by the drought. The lack of autumn green-up meant livestock owners had to dip into winter hay supplies months early. Estimates showed roughly 608 cattle and 282 sheep in the county were directly impacted by water and feed shortages, leading to increased operational costs for local farms.

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 1300365. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.