Summary
- Despite receiving less than average amounts of rain in October and early November, drought conditions have improved. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, currently, 3.23% of the state in the Seacoast Region and a very small area in the southwest corner of the state is experiencing moderate drought, 32.76% of the state remains abnormally dry, and 64% of the state is under normal conditions.
- New Hampshire is expected to receive from 1.25"- 3" of rain on Friday night and Saturday morning. The least amount of rain is expected to fall on the Seacoast Region, which is also the driest part of the state.
- The 6-10 day and 8-14 day outlooks lean toward below normal precipitation and favors below normal temperatures.
- The long-term seasonal outlooks for November, December, and January indicate equal chances of below-normal, normal, and above-normal precipitation and lean toward above normal temperatures.
The Message
As there is no strong indicator of significant dryness in the next few months, temperatures are cool, and the growing season is over, the entire state is likely to return to normal conditions by early winter per designation of the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Note that there are areas of low streamflows and below normal groundwater levels across the state. Some good soaking rains before the end of the recharge season, which occurs at the end of December, and a heavy snowpack will be needed for the state's water resources to recover from longer term precipitation deficits.
This will be the last drought update of the season and NHDES will no longer be maintaining the outdoor water use restriction list.
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