Drought in Western Hampden, Massachusetts

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in western Hampden County through the month of October.

Rainfall was above normal in October for Eastern Massachusetts and the Central Hills, but remained below normal in Western Massachusetts. Values since July 2016 for all areas remained below normal.

On October 7th, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs expanded the Drought Warning to include the Connecticut River region. A Drought Warning remained in effect for the northeast, central, and southeast parts of the state. A Drought Watch continued for Cape Cod and parts of the Islands. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicated mandatory non-essential outdoor water use restrictions were in place for numerous communities within central and eastern MA. Other communities in the Commonwealth had voluntary water restrictions in place.

Many gages in central and eastern portions of southern New England had at least somewhat improved streamflows. However, across the Connecticut River Valley in MA and CT, rivers and streams remained quite low.

At the end of October, many USGS groundwater wells across southern New England were at below to well below normal levels.