Drought — Western Hampden, Massachusetts

2016-08-02 to 2016-08-31 · Western Hampden, Massachusetts

Event narrative

The U.S. Drought Monitor expanded the Severe Drought (D2) designation into western Hampden County on August 2nd.

Wider weather episode

August brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. By the end of the month, most, if not all of Massachusetts was in a drought designation. For many, the drought began in July 2016. At this point, this is a drought categorized largely by well below normal precipitation and groundwater and agricultural impacts. Most of the region experienced below normal rainfall during the month of August. Much of eastern Massachusetts south of Boston, received less than half the normal amount of rainfall for the month. The exception was southern Worcester County where above normal rainfall was experienced. However, this additional rainfall did little to dispel drought conditions. Boston experienced its driest meteorological summer (June/July/August) on record with only 3.92 inches of rainfall. The previous record was 3.97 inches in 1957.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued a drought warning for the northeast and central portions of the state, a drought watch for southeast Massachusetts and the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts, and a drought advisory for western Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands on August 12th. This was an upgrade for each region from July. Of note: this is the first time a Drought Warning has been in effect for any portion of Massachusetts since the original creation of the state's drought plan in 2001. Soil moisture (measured by the Climate Prediction Center) was abnormally dry, except across east coastal Massachusetts where conditions were found to be excessively dry. Groundwater conditions (measured by the United States Geological Survey) were found to be below to well below normal for most of Massachusetts. Cape Cod and the Islands were at or above normal at this time. River and streamflow conditions were below to well below normal with 27 gage sites in southern New England at record low levels.

Farmers have had to irrigate their crops much more than normal for August. Losses were started to be reported by producers in the Connecticut River valley area of Massachusetts. In addition, sources of irrigation have been dwindling. While data thus far has been anecdotal, many farmers are having to choose which fields to irrigate and which to let go, as well as not doing 2nd and 3rd plantings of late summer crops. Known losses, according to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, include a total loss of the peach crop, reduced apple and cranberry crops, and no second and third cut hay. More than 160 public water systems in Massachusetts have imposed some sort of water use restrictions, 70 of those have the strictest parameters in place, allowing residents to use outdoor water one day a week or less.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 657583. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.