AUGUSTA, MAINE – Maine’s Drought Task Force convened virtually yesterday, December 19th, for the second and final time this season to discuss drought conditions from the precipitation deficit across the state. The National Weather Service offices in Gray and Caribou report that 2024 was one of the top 5 driest Falls on record with precipitation deficits of 5-8”. Drought conditions persist but have been slightly mitigated by wet weather the end of November and beginning of December. NWS is not expecting any significant increases in the snowpack until after the New Year. The transition to winter means snowpack and frost depth are increasingly important for assessing spring drought conditions due to groundwater recharge.
“There was noticeable improvement in streamflow conditions throughout Maine from rainfall in November and December,” said Nick Stasulis, Drought Task Force co-chair and Monitoring Operations Section Chief at US Geological Survey. “Some regulated basins are below normal, but otherwise flows are normal to above normal. Rivers are beginning to ice over in northern/western basins and additional rainfall will be needed to maintain flows at the current level.”
Data from the U.S. Drought Monitor show moderate drought from interior Maine extending to the coast. The northwestern section of the state is considered abnormally dry.
A total of 20 dry well survey submissions have been received since the beginning of 2024, with 18 of those submissions being from the last two months. Maine homeowners with dry wells are encouraged to report this information on the Dry Well Survey. To receive help filling out the survey please call 211 or 1-877-463-6207, or text your Maine zip code to 898-211. Please note that reporting a dry well is not an application for assistance.
The Maine Forest Service reports there have been 639 wildfires to date this year, burning a total of nearly 300 acres.
The Drought Task Force is made up of state, federal and private scientific, agricultural, regulatory, water use and natural resources organizations and assists in monitoring, coordinating, and managing responses to droughts and recommends actions to minimize impacts to public health, safety, the environment, and agriculture. The Drought Task Force will continue evaluating conditions and will only reconvene if drought circumstances worsen.
For more information please visit:
Maine Drought Task Force: https://www.maine.gov/mema/hazards/drought-task-force
Drought Monitor: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
USGS Water Watch: https://waterwatch.usgs.gov/
Northeast Drought Early Warning System (NE DEWS): https://nedews.nrcc.cornell.edu/
Dry Well Survey: https://maine-dry-well-survey-maine.hub.arcgis.com/
Maine Forest Service Wildfire Danger Report: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/wildfire_danger_report/index.html
For safety and preparedness information, visit MEMA’s website or find us on Facebook, X and Nextdoor.
CONTACT: Vanessa Corson
CELL PHONE: (207) 592-6201
EMAIL: vanessa.corson@maine.gov
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