Maine’s drought could last through the winter

By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff

Forecasters with the National Weather Service say conditions are right for Maine’s drought to last through the winter.

As the ground begins to fully freeze, it will limit the amount of water that will be able to penetrate the soil and replenish groundwater. According to the NWS, Maine’s drought is due mostly to a lack of groundwater after scant rainfall through the second half of the summer. 

Much of the state remains in a moderate drought, with severe drought conditions through northwestern and the coastal interior. Extreme drought conditions persist in the greater Portland region. 

There is some potential for multiple days of rain through mid-December, but if snowpack increases, it will be difficult for rainfall to penetrate the soil and replenish groundwater. 

If groundwater is not replenished before the ground is completely frozen, drought conditions could continue into the spring. According to forecasters, the timing and amount of snowmelt in the spring will help determine if the groundwater can be replenished before the agricultural season gets into full swing.