June precipitation ranged from 25 percent of normal in spots such as western New York and western Massachusetts to more than twice the norm in areas such as northern New York. Twenty-seven of 35 major climate sites in the Northeast were drier than normal, but June was among the 20 wettest on record for three sites. Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center
Dry June in Much of New England and the Spread of Moderate Drought
After a somewhat dry June in much of New England, July kicks in with some hot and likely stormy weather.
Temperatures were expected to hit the mid-90s in some spots today, and Maine issued an air quality alert for ground-level ozone pollution in some areas.
Tomorrow, isolated scattered severe thunderstorms that could produce damaging winds and marginally severe hail should form across parts of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.
Meanwhile, “short-term abnormal dryness and moderate drought expanded in coverage across much of New England this week, as rainfall was somewhat sparse across the eastern portion of the region,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (as of 8 a.m. on June 28). Stream flows “also continued a downward trend across parts of the region. Southeastern Massachusetts has begun community water conservation as moderate short-term drought continued.”
This week, 4.01 percent of New Hampshire was in a moderate drought and nearly all of it (98.49) percent was at least abnormally dry, according to the drought monitor. That’s a significant change from a week earlier, when just 5.61 percent of the Granite State was abnormally dry and moderate drought covered less than 1 percent.
One year ago, however, New Hampshire was in worse shape. More than half the state was in a moderate drought.
“Over the near term, our climate will continue to get warmer and wetter, although warming summer temperatures combined with little to no increase in summer precipitation will likely lead to more short-term drought conditions during the summer season,” according to the New Hampshire Climate Assessment 2021 that was released this week by the University of New Hampshire.
“While wildfires continue to destroy communities across western North America and also impact air quality in the northeast…the drought conditions in 2016–2017 and 2020–2021 across New England raised concerns regarding an increase in wildfires in the region,” the report says.
This week, nearly 18 percent of Maine was in a moderate drought and nearly three-fifths was abnormally dry. While dry conditions spread compared with a week ago, about 21 percent of the state was in a severe drought and about 70 percent was in a moderate drought a year ago, according to the drought monitor.
In the Northeast, especially in New England, factors such as below-normal precipitation, low streamflow and groundwater levels and declining soil moisture led to an expansion of moderate drought and abnormal dryness in June, according to the Northeast Regional Climate Center.
More images, including some of my recent Quincy Bog and Newfound Lake photos:
Potential for severe thunderstorms Saturday across parts of the Eastern U.S., especially along the I-95 corridor from Boston to northern Virginia. Damaging wind gusts will be the main threat. A few storms may also contain hail and an isolated tornado or two is possible. Source: National Weather Service Eastern Region Headquarters
Drought is expected to persist in some areas of New England in July 2022, with some areas likely becoming drought-free or only abnormally dry. Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Dry conditions expanded in much of New England in the last week through 8 a.m. on June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The yellow area in New Hampshire was abnormally dry and the beige area was in a moderate drought as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The yellow area in Maine was abnormally dry and the beige area was in a moderate drought as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The yellow area in Vermont was abnormally dry and the beige area was in a moderate drought as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
A preliminary precipitation summary for June. In general, it was wet in the west and dry in the east, where it is abnormally dry. Source: National Weather Service Burlington VT office
June is usually one of the most active months for severe weather in eastern NY/western New England. But there were no severe thunderstorm warnings or reports this June, which is quite rare. The National Weather Service office in Albany, New York, was the only office in the Northeast and one of just a few across the Continental U.S. with no severe thunderstorm/flash flood/tornado warnings or severe weather reports. Source: National Weather Service Albany NY office
The beige area in Massachusetts was in a moderate drought and the yellow area was abnormally dry as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The beige area in Rhode Island was in a moderate drought and the yellow area was abnormally dry as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The beige area in Connecticut was in a moderate drought and the yellow area was abnormally dry as of June 28, 2022. Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
The temperature outlook for July 2022. Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
The precipitation outlook for July 2022. Source: NOAA Climate Prediction Center
Quincy Bog Natural Area in Rumney, New Hampshire, on June 30, 2022. Photo: Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy
Quincy Bog Natural Area in Rumney, New Hampshire, on June 30, 2022. Photo: Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy
Kayaking view of Newfound Lake in New Hampshire on July 1, 2022. Photo: Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
Kayaking view of Big Sugarloaf, Little Sugarloaf and Newfound Lake in New Hampshire on July 1, 2022. Photo: Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
Kayaking view of Newfound Lake in New Hampshire on July 1, 2022. Photo: Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger
NH EnviroGuy blogger & photography enthusiast living near Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. Finalist, 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Snowy ROC NY native.
