Drought in Southern Franklin, Maine

Franklin County averaged 4.42 inches of precipitation in April, approximately 0.92 inches above normal. The USDM on March 31st had 52% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 48% in Moderate Drought (D1). By the end of April the severe drought had been reduced to 26% of the county. Precipitation deficits since the beginning of the drought remained around 9 inches. The drought was primarily defined by subsurface groundwater deficits and lower than normal reservoir levels.

In Maine, hydrologic conditions varied significantly by region. The upper Kennebec and Androscoggin basins received above normal precipitation, which provided some localized relief. However, southern portions of the state experienced severe dryness, with monthly precipitation deficits exceeding two inches. This underperforming spring supported limited improvements in Maine's drought, however the extreme drought (D3) was reduced to severe drought (D2). Although early-month snowmelt and spring rains temporarily buoyed soil moisture, reservoirs, and shallow water tables, groundwater storage remained low. Regional monitoring wells, such as those in Oxford and Eustis, remained within the Below Normal (10th'25th percentile) or Much Below Normal (5th'10th percentile) categories, reflecting a deeply stressed system. By the end of April, no flooding had occurred, and the vast majority of waterways finished the month flowing at below-normal to much-below-normal rates.