CONCORD, N.H. — Despite this week’s stormy weather, dry conditions are expanding in parts of New England and New York due to warmer than average temperatures.
Large parts of the area are abnormally dry or enduring moderate drought conditions, according to data released Thursday from the National Drought Monitor. Moderate drought also reached most of Vermont and New Hampshire, southern Maine and near Buffalo and Rochester in New York.
In New Hampshire, the state Department of Environmental Services says that nearly 50 communities have some water restrictions with nearly half of them being mandatory. With the entire state either in moderate drought or abnormally dry, the rules restrict outdoor water use.
“It could definitely get worse before it gets better,” said Mary Stampone, the state climatologist. “The near-term forecast is for wet weather which would be great. But we still have quite a bit of summer to go.”
But Stampone said the drought conditions are nothing like they were in 2016. Then, bone-dry conditions caused private wells to go dry, fire risks were increased and farmers were forced to abandon crops or spend much more on irrigation.
Farmers, meanwhile, reported the lack of rainfall has stunted the growth of some crops and raised concerns that a prolonged drought could put the planting of fall crops at risk. Others are concerned about having to spend more on irrigation if the drought persists.