Drought — Coastal Rockingham, New Hampshire

2020-12-01 to 2020-12-22 · Coastal Rockingham, New Hampshire

Event narrative

Drought classification remained the same throughout the entire region during the month of November with D2 and D3 classification remaining centered across southeast New Hampshire. Severe drought impacted 19% of the state with 11% of the state under Extreme drought conditions. Due to the heavy rains at the end of November and continued wet conditions through December the drought classification continued to improve. Concord recorded another 5.21 of rain in December which was above normal. Soil moisture and hydrologic conditions continued to improve through the month allowing for steady decrease in drought classification, with a complete removal of Severe drought classification across Southeast New Hampshire by December 22nd, 2020. Overall drought impacts were limited to pockets of below normal water table levels at some well sites but even these wells were showing an upward recharge trend. Areas of D0 and D1 did linger across central and southern portions of the state by the end of the month.

Wider weather episode

The flash drought that began in mid-May and lasted through the summer months continued to improve through the fall. Severe drought status was removed from the remainder of southeast New Hampshire by the middle of December as beneficial rain and snow continued to improve drought classifications. Drought impacts continued to improve with the primary remaining impact being below normal ground water levels.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 935390. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.