April 12, 2023

Special Edition

Drought Early Warning Update for the

Northeast

Spring Dryness Becomes and Issue

KEY POINTS

The NE DEWS and partners have released this special edition Drought Status Update because of recent spring dryness (fire hazards, low humilities, windy conditions, first signs of streamflow deficits) and the potential for expanding abnormally dry conditions across the region. A full DSU is planned for the 28 of April and may signal a transition to biweekly updates.

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) - Quantitative Precipitation Forecast does not indicate widespread or significant precipitation for the region during the next week. Only scattered lighter rain events (generally less than half an inch) are anticipated. 

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) 6 - 10 Day Temperature Outlook indicates probabilities for warmer conditions that will enhance dryness.

REPORTED IMPACTS and State Preparedness Activities

Connecticut

Preparing for Drought in Connecticut Webinar

Hosted by the State Water Plan Outreach and Education Subgroup

Recording available from CT - N

Maine

April 11, 2023 Maine Government News - Spring Fire Season

Massachusetts

April 9, 2023 WCVB TV - Gloucester Brush Fire Impacts About 80 Acres 

April 7. 2023 WCVB TV - Massachusetts Brush Fires Spread To Homes In Some Towns

April 7, 2023 Cape Cod Times - Don’t Get Burned

April 7, 2023 Wickedlocal.com - Red Flags

April 6, 2023 GBH News - Don’t Want To Say The D-Word Yet

New York

April 11, 2023 Department of Environmental Conservation - Small Wildfires Quickly Extinguished in Chautauqua, Putnam, Washington and Columbia Counties

April 9, 2023 WENY TV - Dry Pattern Raises Concerns

April 4, 2023 Department of Environmental Conservation - Prescribed Fire Efforts in Albany and Suffolk Counties

Rhode Island

Drought Monitoring Dashboard

April 7, 2023 WJAR TV - Gusty winds, dry conditions bring brush fires to Rhode Island (msn.com)

Southern New England

April 7, 2023 Boston Globe - High fire danger warning issued across southern New England (msn.com)

KEY RESOURCES for monitoring our spring dryness:

NWS Fire Weather Conditions

Current USGS Stream Flow map

WHAT WE ARE WATCHING

Evapotranspiration (ET)

Average daily potential evapotranspiration (ET) increases rapidly in the Northeast in May and June. With the increased ET, a given amount of rainfall is less effective at replenishing soil moisture and surface reservoirs.

Additional Resources

• NOAA Regional Climate Services: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/regional
• Your local National Weather Service office: https://www.weather.gov/srh/nwsoffices
• USDA Northeast Climate Hub: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northeast/drought-map
• USGS/New England and New York Water Science Centers: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-england-water and https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water.

Prepared By

Sylvia Reeves

NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

Samantha Borisoff, Jessica Spaccio, Keith Eggleston, Art DeGaetano

Northeast Regional Climate Center

Ellen Mecray

Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region, NOAA

Gardner Bent

USGS/New England Water Science Center

In partnership with National Weather Service Offices of the Northeast and State Climate Offices of the Northeast.