Drought — Southern Oxford, Maine

2021-06-01 to 2021-06-30 · Southern Oxford, Maine

Event narrative

The state of Maine activated its Drought Task Force. Several towns instituted voluntary water restrictions. Hydro operators balanced needs of lake levels, hydroelectric power generation needs, and the discharges to maintain stream flow needs downstream. In Maine, the South Berwick Water District has issued emergency mandatory water use restrictions. Most of the reported water quantity issues are from southern and coastal areas. Farmers without irrigation experienced stressed vegetation from a lack of rain and near record temperatures in June. First-cut hay crop was near normal, but subsequent hay growth was slowed. Most streamflow stations in central and western Maine with 30+ years of record were at the lowest they have ever been for that time of year, even compared to the 2020 drought.

Wider weather episode

Significant dryness due to lack of rainfall saw short term drought conditions deteriorating in June from Moderate to Severe Drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. By the end of June, the U.S. Drought Monitor classified most of New Hampshire and Western Maine as observing drought conditions. A moderate drought level (D1) or higher was in place for 70% of Maine and 58% New Hampshire. Severe drought (D2) conditions were designated for 20% of Maine over portions of Oxford, Franklin, and Somerset counties, extending westward into a portion of Coos County in New Hampshire. Southern portions of New Hampshire along the Massachusetts border were the only areas currently not designated in drought at the time.

The drought developed as a result of below normal precipitation this spring followed by a warm and dry start to the summer season. Groundwater levels didn't get the typical recharge from winter snowmelt or spring rains, so the deterioration of soil moisture in June led to a rapid drop in streamflows, reservoir levels, and well readings. Areas designated as a moderate drought or worse were running 6 inches or more below normal rainfall for the year. Much of the area within D1 or worse drought designation had observed 25 to 50% of their normal precipitation over between May and June, while areas that were abnormally dry (D0) observed 70% of normal precipitation.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 966963. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.