Latest Drought Information Statements For Maine
Drought Information Statement for Northern and Eastern Maine
Valid August 28, 2025
Issued By: WFO Caribou, ME
This product will be updated September 4, 2025 or sooner, if drought conditions change significantly.
Drought Conditions expand across Eastern and Northern Maine
Severe Drought expands to Bangor region
U.S. Drought Monitor
Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor for Maine
Drought Intensity and Extent:
D2 (Severe Drought): Extreme Southern Penobscot County up to around Bangor, much of Hancock County & Coastal Washington County.
D1 (Moderate Drought): Interior Hancock, Central & Northern Washington, Southern & Central Penobscot, Southern Piscataquis counties.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of Northern Somerset, Northern Penobscot, Southern & Northeast Aroostook counties.
Percentage of Maine in Drought
D0: (Abnormally Dry): 24.2%
D1 (Moderate Drought): 51.7%
D2 (Severe Drought): 10.9%
Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Link to the latest 4-week change map for Northeast U.S.
Four week drought monitor class change:
Drought Worsened: Interior Downeast Maine, Bangor region into portions of the Central Highlands.
Dry Conditions Worsened: Moosehead Region & Southern/Eastern Aroostook County.
No Change: North Woods & St. John Valley
Precipitation
Widespread soaking rainfall across northern areas was beneficial for groundwater recharge. Elsewhere, mainly isolated to scattered showers provided limited rainfall.
A couple recent events provided some rainfall, but significant 30-60 day deficits remain.
Temperature
7 day trends have featured below near to slightly below normal temperatures across much of the area.
30 day trends have been near to slightly above normal for most locations.
Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts
The majority of streamflows across the service area have fallen to within the “Below” to “Much Below Normal” percentile. (USGS)
A few sites approaching or at record low flows for this time of year.
Agricultural Impacts
Irrigation impacts; increased usage of irrigation, water supply from ponds running low.
Fire Hazard Impacts
Wildfire activity has been well above average in Maine in August.
Wildfires have been burning actively at night, burning deep into the ground, and completely consuming larger fuels, all indicative of dry conditions.
Vegetation is showing signs of drought stress, with birch and other hardwood trees beginning to change color and drop leaves earlier than normal.
Other Impacts
Dry wells can occur during periods of drought and have been reported over the past few weeks.
Mitigation Actions
Conserve water, practice fire prevention and follow directions from local officials.
Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Majority of the stream flows across the service area have fallen to “below normal” or “much below normal”.
A few locations are now at record low flows for this time of year.
Only a few watersheds in Northern Maine are within the “normal” percentile.
Agricultural Impacts
Soil moistures are above normal across Northern Maine & portions of the Central Highlands. This is due to recent rainfall.
Soil moisture is significantly below normal in Downeast Maine, Bangor Region & Moosehead Region.
Fire Hazard Impacts
High fire danger in central and coastal Maine. Moderate in northern Maine.
Potential for low fire risk Friday through Saturday, with returning moisture and rainfall.
Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Upper level system will slowly remain overhead through the weekend. Increased chances of rainfall especially in northern areas.
Drier weather returns for much of next week with just a few chances of showers.
Next 7 days features wetting rains for the northern areas but no drought busting rains in southern areas.
Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
Currently no rapid drought risk forecast in the next two weeks.
Main Takeaways for Next Week:
Temperatures forecast to be near normal.
Precipitation forecast to be near normal.
Possible Impact
Without above average rainfall, precipitation deficit will persist.
Main Takeaways for the Next Month:
Above average temperatures.
Near normal precipitation amounts.
Possible Impact
Despite having some below average temperatures in the short term, above average temperatures with average precipitation will not help Maine to catch up in its moisture deficit. Isolated storms with locally higher precipitation totals could help select locations get some additional moisture.
Downeast coast expected to have drought removal by end of the 3-month seasonal outlook.
Possible Impact
Potential for some improved conditions in drought heavy areas in the next few months.
Main Takeaways
The drought was driven by periods of hot temperatures in July and August, during which time less than 50% of normal rainfall was observed.
Hot temperatures increased evapotranspiration, depleting soil moisture rapidly.
These conditions occurring during the peak growing season are responsible for crop and forest stress.
Additional impacts include but not limited to declining streamflows, lake levels, and groundwater.
The latest forecast and outlooks going forward favor limited opportunities for relief through early September.
Contact Information
Web
www.weather.gov/gyx
www.weather.gov/car
Questions? Email
nws.caribou@noaa.gov
james.sinko@noaa.gov
Louise.fode@noaa.gov
Donald.dumont@noaa.gov
Drought Information Statement for New Hampshire and Western Maine
August 28 2025
Issued By: NWS Gray Maine
Contact Information: gyx.skywarn@noaa.gov
Drought impacts worsen as moderate and severe drought categories expand across Maine and New Hampshire by late August
August is expected to close out as one of the driest on record for parts of Maine and New Hampshire
1
U.S. Drought Monitor
U.S. Drought Monitor for the Northeast
Drought intensity and Extent
D2 (Severe Drought): Knox, Lincoln, Waldo Counties in Maine.
D1 (Moderate Drought): In New Hampshire; Coos, Grafton, Carroll, Belknap, Sullivan, Merrimack, Belknap, Strafford Counties, including northern portions of Cheshire, Hillsborough, Rockingham Counties. In Maine; Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Sagadahoc, western Lincoln Counties.
D0: (Abnormally Dry): Northern portions of Somerset County in Maine, and southern portions of Cheshire, Hillsborough, and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire
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Recent Change in Drought Intensity
4-week change map for New England
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change.
Dry conditions started in mid June, with drought conditions accelerating during periods of hot weather in late July and early August
Almost all drought conditions developed between late July and mid August
Drought impacts can vary based on type of sector (fire, agriculture, water management, recreational, etc. ) and on local infiltration rates based on your soil types. A moderate drought defines the general regional level of impact, but local impacts can be more or less severe than the categories here suggest.
Precipitation
Some hit and miss showers and thunderstorms brought rainfall mostly to parts of western and northern Maine
Much of southern Maine and New Hampshire received little to no precipitation
Temperatures were mild during this period, lessening evaporation compared to the beginning days of the drought
7 Day Observed Precipitation
Ending August 26, 2025
Drought Task Force Holder
Precipitation
Pockets of moderate to heavy rainfall, but overall most of the region observed 2 to 4 inches below normal rain for the month
Many areas observed less than 0.5” for 30 days
The small nature of the hit and miss showers resulted in limited abstraction into the ground and even less runoff into area rivers
30 Day Observed Precipitation
Ending August 26, 2025
Drought Task Force Holder
Precipitation
Departures from Normal by County
www.weather.gov/nerfc/watersupply
Local Departures 2-4”
Local Departures 3-6”
Local Departures 4-8”
Drought Task Force Holder
Precipitation
Rainfall in spring and early summer was above normal
Deficits primarily occurred over the last 30-60 days
30 Day precipitation anomalies were <25% in central Maine, and <50% for remaining areas
Anomalies
Temperature
Above normal temperatures coincided with the dry-period, increasing evaporation and accelerating drought
LEGEND CUT OFF Resource provided for updating photos not available in northeast
4 Week Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)
Evaporation
EDDI is a drought monitoring tool that shows the anomaly in daily evaporative demand over a given period of time.
Unusually high evaporative demand can lead to moisture stress on the land surface, and ultimately to drought—even when precipitation has been near-normal.
LEGEND CUT OFF Resource provided for updating photos not available in northeast
Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Drought conditions have reduced rivers to much below to new all time recorded low levels for August based on USGS streamflow stations
Image 1 (left): USGS 7-Day Streamflow based on the percentile of existing streamflow records on this day of the year.
Image 2(right): USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid August 27 2025
Agricultural Impacts
Climate Prediction Center Soil Moisture Products show rapidly drying topsoils resulting in deteriorating pasture conditions and increased watering needs for gardens and young trees.
The drought is expected to have negative consequences for crop yields.
This map shows the moisture content of the top 10 centimeters of soil compared to historical conditions based on NOAA’s National Water Model.
Hit and miss showers have improved pockets of soil moisture, but larger sized watersheds remain in severe deficits compared to climatology
Soil Moisture
National Current Conditions | Drought.gov
Groundwater Impacts
Location: Carroll County, New Hampshire
Location: Oxford County, Maine
Several groundwater monitoring wells are Below to Much Below Normal
Drought Task Force Holder
Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Links to the latest:
Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook
Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook
Climate prediction center drought outlooks favor improvements by late fall
This forecast is in part connected to the tropical outlook favoring above normal activity
Fall is often
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Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
7-day rainfall (Through Sep 4) suggests limited drought relief
Almost all rainfall will occur on Friday August 29 (image below)
Little to no rainfall for the remainder of the 7 day forecast
Broad area of low pressure to dominate most of the country next week into next weekend, bringing colder temperatures. This fall-like pattern will limit evaporation, but bring little drought relief.
8-14 Day Forecast
Drought Task Force Holder
Fire Hazard Impacts
Wildfire agencies in Maine and New Hampshire have routinely issued high to very high fire danger ratings in August due to very dry fuels.
Fire starts have been the highest since records have been kept for this time of year due to both natural and manmade fire starts.
Fire weather conditions over the next week are not expected to be elevated or critical, but dry conditions are expected most of next week once again. to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center.
Summary of Impacts
Links: See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter
Hydrologic Impacts
Streamflows and groundwater levels well below normal for this date in August based on USGS gages
Agricultural Impacts
Farmers are facing challenges with crops and livestock due to the lack of adequate rainfall, forcing them to implement water conservation measures and even truck in water.
Fire Hazard Impacts
The total count of wildfires was well above average in August.
Prolonged dry periods weaken or kill off vegetation, creating dry fuel that can ignite easily with a source .
Limited soil moisture can put stress on trees leading to early shedding of leaves and shutting down of annual grasses.
Other Impacts
Reports of dry wells have increased across both Maine and New Hampshire with more anticipated due to worsening conditions
Mitigation Actions
Call to Actions: Conserve water, practice fire prevention, and follow directions from local officials.
Required
Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
Links to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook.
Summarize conditions and impacts here
Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
Summarize conditions/impacts here
Main Takeaways
August likely to close out near record driest for parts of ME & NH
Streamflows and groundwater levels continued to decline
Soil moisture showed severe deficits for the time of year, responsible for crop and forest stress
Additional impacts include but not limited to declining lake levels and a growing number of dry wells
The latest forecast and outlooks going forward favor limited opportunities for relief through mid September
Contact Information
Web
www.weather.gov/gyx
Questions? Email
gyx.skywarn@noaa.gov
sarah.jamison@noaa.gov
Required
Gray-Portland, ME
National Weather Service
11:43 AM
Contact Information
Briefing Webpage
www.weather.gov/gyx/EMhome
https://www.weather.gov/gyx/drought
Disclaimer
Information contained in this briefing is time-sensitive
Do Not Use After: August September 5, 2025
Contact Information
Web
www.weather.gov/gyx
Phone (public)
(207) 688-3216
Email
gyx.skywarn@noaa.gov
sarah.jamison@noaa.gov
Facebook
NWSGray
Twitter
@NWSGray
Mandatory! Update the next briefing information. If this is the last briefing, replace the first bullet with “This is the last update unless conditions warrant.” and delete the “Method” bullet. The Disclaimer date and time should be approximately 12 hours from the current briefing or less.
posted by Advackia at 9:15 PM
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