Drought Early Warning Update for the Northeast

Northeast Drought Early Warning Update

Drought Early Warning Update for the

Northeast

April 16, 2021

Northeastern Drought Springs Back into the Headlines

This Drought Early Warning Update is issued in partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to communicate concern for drought expansion and intensification within the Northeast U.S. based on recent conditions and the forecasts and outlooks. NIDIS and its partners will issue future Drought Early Warning Updates as conditions evolve.

This covers the following states in the Northeast U.S.: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.

For more details, see the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.

Key Points

Moderate Drought (D1) covered sizable portions of western and northern New York as well as a small portion of central New York
Moderate Drought (D1) covered nearly all of Vermont, most of southern New Hampshire and dipped into north central Massachusetts
Abnormally Dry Conditions (D0) dominated most of the rest of the NE DEWS.
Precipitation (snow and rain) at the end of this week may take the edge off but will not ameliorate the hydrological drought in the region.

Current Conditions

U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions

Moderate drought (D1) conditions exist in 23.5% of the region.
Abnormally dry (D0) conditions exist in 53.5% of the region.

April 13, 2021, U.S. Drought Monitor Map: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

7-Day Average Streamflows

Streamflows are below average for most of the Northeast except for northeastern Maine.

Annual Precipitation Departure from Normal

Much of the Northeast has been experiencing a downward trend of precipitation departure since the beginning of 2021.

State Reported Impacts

New York

Drought expands in Upstate NY, and it’s likely to get worse

https://www.syracuse.com/weather/2021/04/drought-expands-in-upstate-ny-and-its-likely-to-get-worse.html

NIDIS and NWS Launch Interactive Map With Drought Information Statements

National Weather Service drought information statements provide up-to-date reports on the current drought situation for a Weather Forecast Office’s (WFO's) county warning and forecast area. These statements summarize recent weather and hydrologic conditions, discuss local drought impacts, and provide a local drought outlook. This new interactive map allows users to explore all active drought information statements published within the last 35 days, overlaid on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Please see the Norton, MA (BOX) statement. Learn more >

Outlooks

The 8-14 day maps indicate below-normal temperatures for New York and Vermont, most of New Hampshire and Connecticut, and western Massachusetts. Normal temperatures are predicted for eastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island and Maine. Above-normal precipitation is predicted for the Northeast, except for northern Maine, where normal precipitation is predicted.
The 3-4 week outlook favors equal chances for above- or below-normal temperatures and precipitation.