Drought — Kennebec, Maine

2025-12-01 to 2025-12-31 · Kennebec, Maine

Event narrative

Kennebec County averaged 1.98 inches of precipitation in December, approximately 2.2 inches below normal, the 4th driest July'December stretch. The USGS streamgage at North Sidney recorded its lowest December flow in 40 years. The USDM on December 30th had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2), with 20% in the east entering Extreme Drought (D3).

Wider weather episode

December 2025 brought little relief to Maine's drought conditions, as winter took hold and frozen ground effectively halted any potential for significant groundwater recharge. While seasonal snowfall provided a surface-level coating across the state, the moisture content of the snowpack remained below normal and insufficient to offset the substantial long-term deficits carried over from the summer and autumn. Hydrological recovery remained at a standstill, with streamflows below normal, particularly in the coastal basins. Consequently, severe to extreme drought conditions persisted across southern and central Maine, with the number of failing private wells continuing to rise. By late December, it was estimated that an additional 8 to 14 inches of liquid precipitation was still required to fully restore soil moisture and replenish the state's depleted groundwater reserves.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1301947. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.