Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Regional Drought Update Date
September 23, 2022
Site Section
Drought Status Update

Drought Status Update for the Northeast


DEWS Regions:
Update Status:

NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought updates as conditions evolve.

Rain Delivers Some Drought Relief Across New England and New York.

For more details, see the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.

Key Points

  • Extreme drought (D3) continued for Boston and the north/south shore surrounding counties.
  • Geographic coverage of severe drought (D2) to abnormally dry conditions (D0) was only marginally reduced.
     
Current Conditions
U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions: Northeast | September 20, 2022

U.S. Drought Monitor Categories

Main Stats
15.38%
of the Northeast is in Moderate Drought (D1)
11.86%
of the Northeast is in Severe Drought (D2)
0.49%
of the Northeast is in Extreme Drought (D3)

Current Conditions

Accumulated Precipitation Departure from Normal

Precipitation deficits at locations across the Northeast were reduced as a result of Labor Day Weekend rain, but since then, those deficits have increased.
Departure from normal precipitation (inches) for Portland Area, ME (blue), Boston Area, MA* (black), Providence Area, RI (light green), Islip Area, NY (orange), Hartford Area, CT (purple), Worcester Area, MA (red), Albany Area, NY (yellow), and Binghamton Area, NY (dark green). Source ACIS.

Precipitation Totals and Departures

Area Precipitation (in.) September 18–21 Departure (in.) Jan. 1– Sept. 17 Departure (in.) Jan. 1– Sept. 21
Burlington, VT 2.13 0.30 1.91
Portland, ME 1.60 -5.53 -4.46
Syracuse, NY 1.01 -2.81 -2.27
Worcester, MA 0.95 -1.79 -1.43
Concord, NH 0.87 -0.06 0.30
Albany, NY 0.78 -3.61 -3.36
Rochester, NY 0.64 -3.96 -3.76
Boston, MA 0.44 -10.89 -10.96
Buffalo, NY 0.34 -2.03 -2.31
Caribou, ME 0.21 1.65 1.39
Binghamton, NY 0.20 3.66 3.29
Hartford, CT 0.19 -0.53 -0.98
Central Park, NY 0.14 -4.74 -5.21
Bridgeport, CT 0.12 -5.83 -6.26
Providence, RI 0.08 -3.60 -4.11
LaGuardia Ap, NY 0.07 -1.96 -2.43
Kennedy Ap, NY 0.03 -7.01 -7.49
Islip, NY 0.01 -6.33 -6.83

 

State-Reported Impacts

New England

Connecticut

Maine

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New York

Rhode Island

Vermont

Outlooks

  • According to the Climate Prediction Center's 8–14 day outlook (valid September 29–October 5, 2022), odds favor near-normal precipitation and temperatures throughout the Northeast, except for the far-western edge of New York where below-normal precipitation is likely.
  • The week 3–4 outlook (valid October 1–14, 2022) favors below-normal precipitation across much of New York (except southern New York) and northwestern Vermont. The rest of the region has equal chances of above- or below-normal precipitation. Odds favor above-normal temperatures across the Northeast.

8–14 Day Temperature Outlook

From September 29 to October 5, odds favor near-normal temperatures across the Northeast.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from September 29–October 5, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

8–14 Day Precipitation Outlook

From September 29 to October 5, odds favor near-normal precipitation across the Northeast.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center 8–14 day precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal, below-normal, or normal conditions from September 29–October 5. Source: Climate Prediction Center via the Northeast DEWS Dashboard.

Temperature Outlook Week 3–4

From October 1–14, 2022, odds favor above-normal temperatures for the entire Northeast.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 temperature outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from October 1–14, 2022. Issued September 16, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Precipitation Outlook Week 3–4

From October 1–14, 2022, there are equal chances of above- and below-normal precipitation in most of the Northeast. Odds favor below-normal conditions in northern and central New York and northwestern Vermont.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center week 3–4 precipitation outlook for the Northeast, showing the probability of above-normal or below-normal conditions from October 1–14, 2022. Issued September 16, 2022. Source: Climate Prediction Center.

Register for the Northeast DEWS Partners Meeting: Please register for the Northeast DEWS Partners Meeting to be held on November 1–2 in Glen Falls, New York at the Queensbury Hotel and Conference Center. This is the first in-person gathering of the Northeast Drought Early Warning System partners since 2017. This regional gathering will feature opportunities to share and discuss ongoing drought-related activities, learn about new and innovative drought research and resources, explore emerging issues and opportunities, and identify collaborative paths forward that advance drought early warning and preparedness in the region.

What We Are Watching

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Flow Photo Explorer at Avery Brook Bridge

Heavy rainfall increased the flow at Avery Brook from September 2 to 7. The flow was 0.24-0.26 cubic feet per second on September 2, and reached 6.77 cubic feet per second on September 6.
The flow at Avery Brook near Whately, MA (USGS gaging station 01171000) from September 2–7, 2022. The impacts of significant Labor Day rainfall can be seen. During this period, flow ranged from approximately 0.24 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 6.55 cfs. Source: USGS Flow Photo Explorer.

Featured Resources

Additional Resources

Contacts for More Information

Sylvia Reeves
Regional Drought Information Coordinator (Northeast DEWS)
NOAA/CIRES/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
Email: sylvia.reeves@noaa.gov

Ellen L. Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region
NOAA/NESDIS/National Centers for Environmental Information
Email: Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov

Prepared By

Sylvia Reeves
NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), CIRES

Samantha Borisoff, Jessica Spaccio, Keith Eggleston, Art DeGaetano
Northeast Regional Climate Center

Ellen Mecray
Regional Climate Services Director, Eastern Region, NOAA

David Hollinger
USDA Climate Hubs

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. 

Special Thanks

This drought status update is issued in partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to communicate concern for drought expansion and intensification within the Northeast U.S. based on recent conditions and the forecasts and outlooks. NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought status updates as conditions evolve.