Drought in Northern Coos, New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, 76 community water systems have water restrictions in place as of June 23, with 71 of them having mandatory restrictions. 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. The USGS regional river gages reported streamflows about 30% of normal for this time of year, with the exception of the southern portions of the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers where flows are around 40% of normal.

Significant dryness due to lack of rainfall saw short term drought conditions deteriorating 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.