Drought — Western Hampden, Massachusetts

2017-03-01 to 2017-03-31 · Western Hampden, Massachusetts

Event narrative

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in Western Hampden County through March 21. On March 21 the D2 designation was reduced to cover only the southeast portion of Western Hampden County. The remainder of the region was reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Wider weather episode

Precipitation was below normal in all areas except the Northeast, where it was one-quarter inch above normal. Average temperatures for March were between 2.5 and 5.1 degrees below normal.

Average monthly streamflows were below normal in all areas except the West. Groundwater levels stagnated in recovering this month. Quabbin Reservoir was at a below-normal level, but the other monitored reservoirs in the Connecticut River Valley were at normal.

All regions improved to a Drought Advisory except for the Berkshires, which had no headline.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 686228. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.