Drought in Strafford, New Hampshire

Strafford County averaged 3.11 inches of precipitation in March, approximately 0.83 inches below normal, marking the 3rd driest June through March stretch with deficits over 10 inches. The USDM on March 31st had 97% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 3% in Moderate Drought (D1).

Despite the seasonal transition, New Hampshire remained locked in drought. Persistent precipitation deficits over the winter, falling as low as 50% of normal in southern areas prevented categorical recovery. As of late March, 41% of New Hampshire were classified under D2 (Severe Drought) conditions. New Hampshire exhibited highly variable precipitation patterns in March 2026. While the state continued to observe below-normal accumulations and persistent hydrologic strain, central sections along the Merrimack valley and White Mountains experienced modest precipitation surpluses. The onset of seasonal thaw provided minor, superficial relief to shallow soil layers, but slow-responding deep groundwater tables remained severely depleted, with many monitoring locations lingering near or below the 25th percentile.