I'm not watering those last two plantings, he says. Learn more. October 7, 2022: With several recent precipitation events in September that directly benefited Massachusetts hydrological systems, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card announced that drought conditions have improved in all regions of the state, and made the following drought declarations: the Western Region has been upgraded to Level 0-Normal Conditions; the Connecticut River Valley, Central Region, and Southeast Regions have been upgraded to Level 1-Mild Drought; and, the Northeast and Cape Cod Regions have been upgraded and will join the Islands Region as a Level 2-Signficant Drought. Click on a streamgage to view more data for that location. This summers drought is reminiscent of the 2020 and 2016 droughts. Limit outdoor watering to 1 day a week, and only water between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. when less water will be lost to evaporation. Miriam Wasser Twitter Senior Reporter, Climate and EnvironmentMiriam Wasser is a reporter with WBUR's climate and environment team. But while drought is part of the New England climate, things have changed over the last decade. people in Massachusetts are affected by drought 10 counties with USDA disaster designations 23rd wettest September was in 2022, over the past 128 years 31st driest year to date was in 2022, over the past 128 years Learn more about these data Download screenshot of this panel Explore Drought Conditions by City and County Summary NIDIS is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at national, state, and local levels across the country. There was a very bad drought in the mid-1960s, for instance, and another in 1980 during that drought, the town of Amherst ran out of water and UMASS was forced to close and send all of its students home. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Massachusetts Drought Map for September 13, 2022; Massachusetts Drought Map for September 6, 2022; Massachusetts Drought Map for August 30, 2022; Drought Monitor Maps For Neighboring States and Provinces: Related Massachusetts Maps: Drought Conditions for Massachusetts Cities and Towns. Rethink your lawn. The islands and western region are in a "Level 1 mild drought," and only the Cape is considered normal. Below average rainfall is the main cause of a drought, but its not the only metric the state uses to determine whether a region belongs in a given level. In other words, when farmers like Dave Dumaresq began their season this summer, they may have already been at a hydrological disadvantage. This kind of year-to-year variability that we see in precipitation seems to be becoming more pronounced, Boutt says. Hes not alone. On a hot dry morning in August, he peers over the rocky edge of one of the man-made ponds. All that stuff is basically gone, he says. Streams around the state are running low, which poses a risk for aquatic wildlife and could lead to toxic algae blooms. The National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) produces precipitation outlooks for the U.S., including 610 day, 814 day, monthly, and seasonal outlooks. As humans have warmed the planet, weve changed the atmospheric patterns that shape our weather systems. Thank you! But while relatively short in duration, these droughts still "can have profound impacts on a local region, resulting in shortages in public water supplies and very low streamflows," according to the federal drought monitoring agency. This map uses the gridMET and PRISM temperature datasets. Learn more. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). Limit outdoor watering and only use hand-held hoses or watering cans. This map uses the gridMET and NLDAS precipitation datasets, and precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days. The size of each dot representsthe total acres (crops) or total inventory (livestock) per county. Perhaps one bit of good newsto come from the meeting was the news that no drinking water supplies are threatened at the moment. And it shows. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information produce the 9-month SPI values below on a monthlybasis, going back to 1895. Im hoping for rain.. Humidity, soil moisture, the rate at which surface water evaporates, even how much water plants suck in through their roots and exhale as vapor it all matters. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) produces maps of real-time streamflow conditions compared to historical conditions. Watering should be done between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. To determine that, the task force also asks whether streams and rivers are running lower than normal or even dry; groundwater levels at several wells around the region are lower than normal; lakes and reservoirs are low; the wildfire risk is higher than normal; and whether something called the "evaporative demand drought index" is above normal the EDDI is a measure of how how thirsty the atmosphere is and how quickly water evaporates. Dupigny-Giroux says its helpful to think about the hydrological system as one of supply and demand. This product is an example of currentNIDIS-funded research. Learn more. But the next two are a crapshoot. And in the meantime, hes just hoping it rains. Instead of a carpet of lush green leaves, the potato field is patchy. In a normal year, it would be several feet high at this point in the summer. In general, what were seeing is that the drying conditions have extended further west, and its starting to impact the central and Connecticut River Valley regions as well, said Vandana Rao, director of water policy in the state and chair of the drought task force, at the meeting. Rivers are running low and many streams have gone dry or become a series of disconnected puddles. This product is an example of currentNIDIS-funded research. This summer's drought is reminiscent of the 2020 and 2016 droughts. The Living Blended Drought Product (LBDP) is a recalibrated data series of June-July-August Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) values in the lower 48 U.S. states. Thats not to say that drought is a recent phenomenon in the Northeast. Learn more. As a result, rivers, soil moisture and groundwater levels all fall. View the latest drought-related news, upcoming events, and recordings and summaries of past webinars. He staggers the planting and harvesting, and has gotten two decent pickings so far. acres of hay in drought (D1D4) in Middlesex County (estimated), acres of haylage in drought (D1D4) in Middlesex County (estimated), acres of none in drought (D1D4) in Middlesex County (estimated), number of sheep in drought (D1D4) in Middlesex County (estimated), number of cattle in drought (D1D4) in Middlesex County (estimated), percent of streamflow sites that are below normal in Massachusetts, percent of streamflow sites that are above normal in Massachusetts, percent area of Massachusetts with above normal precipitation probability this month, percent area of Massachusetts with below normal precipitation probability this month, Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Service, Air Quality Warning issued by the National Weather Service, Link to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's homepage, Browse by Regional Drought Early Warning System (DEWS). The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources says that farmers across the state are struggling with this years drought. After the 2020 drought, the rain from 2021 helped, but it probably didnt completely replenish the lost groundwater. Learn more. Learn more. The task force includes state and federal scientists, as well as representatives from several industry, water management and environmental groups. The water is only a couple of inches deep. In June, it recharged to 8 feet, he says. Learn more. So you have the increased labor costs, you have the increased fuel costs, and then you also have the increased maintenance costs and purchase cost of replacement equipment, he says. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. The Outlook predicts whether drought will persist, develop, improve, or be removed over the next three months or so. The corn stalks have turned brown and the ears are smaller than usual. So do rainfall patterns and human development. In drought years, the falloff is steeper, and if the ecosystem doesnt have sufficient time to recover before another dry period, the situation can begin to compound. The long-term blend combines PDSI, Z-Index, and 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year SPI to estimate the overall long-term drought. NIDIS supports drought research through advancing the scientific understanding of the mechanisms that lead to drought as well as improving the coordination and delivery of drought information. For much of the state, were looking at considerably below-normal levels of precipitation anywhere from 50-75% of normal, she said, adding thatsome parts of eastern Massachusetts got 4-5 inches less rain than normal between April and June. And it's in sharp contrast to last summer and the summer of 2018 when New England got a ton of rain. Tree-rings are used to extend the instrumental record of drought to over 2000 years. This means more of it ends up as runoff. National Integrated Drought Information System, people in Middlesex County are affected by drought, of people in Middlesex County are affected by drought, wettest September on record, over the past 128 years, driest year to date over the past 128 years (January-September 2022). October 7, 2022: With several recent precipitation events in September that directly benefited Massachusetts' hydrological systems, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card today announced that drought conditions have improved in all regions of the state, and made the following drought declarations . Similarly, the more we pave over the ground with impermeable surfaces, the less rainwater makes its way to underground aquifers. He has to hire several extra people to operate the constantly running irrigation equipment. They also are more complicated than simply a lack of precipitation. You have been subscribed to WBUR Today. EEA Secretary Bethany Card agreed with the suggestions. A drought early warning system (DEWS) utilizes new and existing networks of federal, tribal, state, local, and academic partners to make climate and drought science accessible and useful for decision makers and stakeholders. And farmers struggle with the uncertainty.. You can try, What you need to know as Massachusetts copes with drought. This map shows the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Social Vulnerability Index alongside current U.S. Drought Monitor drought designations. A circle with the radius of 20 pixels identifies: A circle with the radius of 16 pixels identifies: A circle with the radius of 12 pixels identifies: A circle with the radius of 8 pixels identifies: Advancing Drought Early Warning through Interdisciplinary Research, National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, NIDIS Drought and Wildland Fire Nexus (NDAWN), National Weather Service Drought Information Statements, Temperature (30-Day Departure from Normal), Get Alerts When Local Drought Conditions Change, Crop growth is stunted; planting is delayed, Fire danger is elevated; spring fire season starts early, Irrigation use increases; hay and grain yields are lower than normal, Specialty crops are impacted in both yield and fruit size, Producers begin feeding cattle; hay prices are high, Warnings are issued on outdoor burns; air quality is poor, Crop loss is widespread; Christmas tree farms are stressed; dairy farmers are struggling financially, Well drillers and bulk water haulers see increased business, Water recreation and hunting are modified; wildlife disease outbreak is observed. Learn more. The USDM also incorporates ground truthing and information about how drought is affecting people, via a network of more than 450 observers across the country, including state climatologists, National Weather Service staff, Extension agents, and hydrologists. Yes, weve heard that were going to see more extremes in the climate, but man, are we seeing it in just this short three-year period., Zach Zobel, a scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, says climate change is certainly playing a role in this weather whiplash.. And its in sharp contrast to last summer and the summer of 2018 when New England got a ton of rain. Mohammad Hannan, who farms on 7 acres in Lincoln, says hes lost more than half an acre of broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and beans so far. The maps, which are based on analysis of the data, are released each Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. His boots kick up plumes of fine dust as he walks between garden beds. Dave Celino, the states Chief Forest Fire Warden, said that while the number of forest fires is relatively low at the moment, hes worried that will change as vegetation dries out. In a statement released Tuesday night, Card implored residents to implement water conservation practices to reduce stress on our local water supply systems and our natural habitats.". The state measures drought severity on a scale of 0-4, with 0 being "normal" and 4 being an "emergency." The blends are created using the Climate Engine tool, and apply the CPC weighting ratios to the high-resolution gridMET gridded research dataset. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a national map released every Thursday, showing parts of the U.S. that are in drought. Well pump that dry in about two hours. Massachusetts has experienced little or no exceptional (D4) drought, so there are no D4-level drought impacts recorded in the Drought Impact Reporter. Current Drought Status. This map shows active National Weather Service (NWS) Excessive Heat Watches, Heat Advisories, and Excessive Heat Warnings alongside the current U.S. Drought Monitor. The data cutoff for Drought Monitor maps is each Tuesday at 8 a.m. EDT. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's Seasonal Drought Outlook is issued on the third Thursday of each month. When we think about droughts in the Northeast, they present differently than in the Midwest or in the West, says Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, the Vermont state climatologist and a professor at the University of Vermont. Drought, the experts all agree, is a complicated phenomenon. Twelve feet down, a small gasoline-powered pump grumbles and sputters as it sucks up the liquid dregs. The ongoing drought in Massachusetts is getting worse. This map shows the percent of normal precipitation for the past 30 days, compared to the usual conditions for the same time period averaged from 19912020. It's not necessarily abnormal for New England to experience several months of drought there were statewide droughts in 2021 and 2020. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is an index to characterize meteorological drought on a range of timescales, ranging from 1 to 72 months. Boston, which normally receives 3.27 inches of rain in July, got only 0.62 inches, according to the National Weather Service. So I can imagine for the other farmers who are doing it full time, they are really struggling.. Since the last update in June, the drought in several regions has become more acute. Then well let it sit for two days, and pump another 6,000 gallons or so.. And an expensive one too. Get timely updates on local drought conditions, outlooks, and impacts from NIDIS and its partners. The ongoing drought in Massachusetts is getting worse. Lawns are crunchy, vegetation is shriveling and groundwater levels are plummeting. Driven primarily by a lack of rain, approximately 90% of the state is now experiencing some level of drought, according to the Executive. Click here for more information about this legend. Its just crazy, Dumaresq says. The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture, includingagricultural commodities statistics for crops and livestock. This 1-month outlook depicts whether there is a greater chance for above-normal, below-normal, or near-normal precipitation conditions in this region. The forecast is not is not in his favor. Over the summer, demand for water rises as people and plants use more and higher temperatures cause more evaporation. Were not seeing anything for this month of July to really indicate any improvement.. Most importantly, several members of the task force said that the effects of the drought are being felt throughout the state. You can try, All of Massachusetts is officially in a drought, Worcester urges indoor water limits amid drought, The drought in Mass. CDC's Social Vulnerability Index uses 15 U.S. census variables at tract level (including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing) to help local officials identify communities that may need support in preparing for or recovering from hazards, like drought. Dumaresq, the founder and owner of Farmer Daves a 100-acre mostly organic farm says that with so little rainfall this summer, he feels like hes playing God with the fate of his plants. Driven primarily by a lack of rain, approximately 90% of the state is now experiencing some level of drought, according to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Miriam Wasser Twitter Senior Reporter, Climate and EnvironmentMiriam Wasser is a reporter with WBUR's climate and environment team. And the threat of wildfires continues to grow as grasses and other vegetation dry out. Back on Dumaresqs farm, that rings true. October 7, 2022: With several recent precipitation events in September that directly benefited Massachusetts' hydrological systems, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Beth Card announced that drought conditions have improved in all regions of the state, and made the following drought declarations: the Western Region has been upgraded to Level 0-Normal Conditions; the . The .gov means its official. This experimental subseasonal EDDI forecast shows projected evaporative demand for the next 2 weeks and 4 weeksfrom the CFS-gridMET dataset at 4-km gridded resolution. The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Learn more. Get regional and national drought updates. It's not just the water, but it's also how hot the temperatures are, she says. Dumaresq says a drought year can cost him an extra $60,000 to $100,000. It's Boston local news in one concise, fun and informative email. What little rain he may get in the next week or so will almost surely not be enough to reverse the tide of this summers drought. Thank you! The SPI is the number of standard deviations that observed cumulative precipitation deviates from the climatological average. The corn falls into that latter category. The data are updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days to allow for data collection and quality control. If I did not have another job, I would be in real trouble right now. Intensity and Impacts None D0 (Abnormally Dry) D1 (Moderate Drought) D2 (Severe Drought) D3 (Extreme Drought) D4 (Exceptional Drought) No Data - Delineates dominant impacts Learn more. Learn more. As of Tuesday evening, which is when the latest update came out, four regions are currently in a "Level 2 significant" drought: The northeast, the southeast, central and Connecticut River Valley. Were basically at the point now where were selecting which crops to continue to grow and which crops to basically allow to suffer, he says. Many have reported significant crop losses or seen their hay fields dry up. Learn more. To review a complete summary of the drought conditions, select here for the full DPW update.Click here for More Information. This map displays crops and livestock by county alongside the current U.S. Drought Monitor. Luckily for him, he has other full-time work. After hearing testimony from several experts, the task force sent recommendations to the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs that the three most western regions all be leveled up. The short-term blend combines PDSI, Z-Index, 1-month SPI, and 3-month SPI to estimate the overall short-term drought. The colors represent real-time streamflow compared to percentiles of historical daily streamflow for the day of the year. Already this summer, farming in New England is a game of risk, a series of on-going calculations and tough decisions. This article was originally published on July 12, 2022. of people in Middlesex County are affected by drought 74% since last week 84% since last month 32nd wettest September on record, over the past 128 years 1.21 inches from normal 17th driest year to date over the past 128 years (January-September 2022) 5.46 inches from normal Learn more about these stats Current Conditions for Middlesex County These experimental drought blends integrate several key drought monitoring products and indices into a single short-term or long-term product, based on the methodology developed at the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. The new drought declaration came a day after the state's Drought Management Task Forcemet to discuss conditions on the ground. is worse than in 2016, Want to help the planet? The Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI)is an experimental drought monitoring and early warning guidance tool. An official website of the United States government. Parts of the northeast that typically get about 9 inches over June, July and August have gotten a fraction of that. Farmersin the Connecticut River Valley are reporting drier than normal soils, while some in the northeast region are already seeing crop failures. In a region known for its steady year-round precipitation, climate scientists say acute droughts like this will become more frequent. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The map depicts streamflow conditions as computed at USGS streamgages. The site is secure. This declaration will remain in effect till the next declaration in November. It examines how anomalous the atmospheric evaporative demand (E0; also known as "the thirst of the atmosphere") is for a given location and across a time period of interest. Some experts have started calling droughts like the one the Northeast is currently experiencing flash droughts. While theres debate in the scientific community about how precisely to define a flash drought, in general, its used to describe a drought that comes on rapidly and only lasts for a short period of time. Dave Dumaresqs vegetable farm in Dracut is located in the epicenter of it all. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The state has released the following water use recommendations for residents and businesses: The state's website has more information on indoor and outdoor water conservation practices. Hartford got 2.66 inches instead of its usual 4.17 inches, and Providence got 0.46 inches, a far cry from its usual 2.91 inches. Read more on the MassDEP drought status page.What does this mean for Uxbridge?The reduction from the Level 3 to Level 1 changes the non-essential outdoor water use restrictions to the following level.Level 1 (Mild Drought) 1 day per week watering, after 5 p.m. or before 9 a.m.These restrictions will remain in place until the drought level drops to Level 0. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows eastern Massachusetts, most of Rhode Island and parts of eastern Connecticut in an extreme drought.. So if I were to say what I think is going on from a deep water perspective, [were in] at least a three-year drought, she says. The Outlook predicts whether drought will persist, develop, improve, or be removed over the next month. Consider switching to more efficient toilets, faucets and showers that use less water. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today.
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