Drought in Connecticut, April 1 to 30, 2002

A wetter pattern developed during late March that lasted through April. Although April precipitation amounts rebounded, they still remained slightly below normal. April was the tenth consecutive month of below normal precipitation across the region. Sixteen of the past 19 months, since October 2000, have been below normal. The total precipitation deficit during the past 19 months was 18.56 inches. The total deficit during the past 10 months was 15.11 inches. The region averaged 3.81 inches for April, which was 93 percent of normal. Precipitation averaged 74 percent of normal during the past 19 months and 60 percent of normal during the past 10 months.The combined reservoir storage levels increased from 81 percent capacity during March to 84 percent capacity during April. Of the 95 water utilities that supply to more than 1,000 people, 63 had requested voluntary conservation and 12 issued mandatory conservation orders. Of the 497 water utilities that supply less than 1,000 people, 369 requested voluntary conservation, and 17 issued mandatory conservation orders.Most streams experienced low flows, although normal springtime flooding occurred along the main stem of the Connecticut River in response to snow melt and precipitation in the northern reaches of the watershed in Vermont and New Hampshire. Streamflows across much of the state were in the lowest 25 percent for late April. Conditions were worse across eastern CT, where record low flows were common. Flows in the less than 10 percent range on April 23rd included the Quinnipiac River at Wallingford, Housatonic River at Gaylordsville and Stevenson Dam, the Saugatuck River near Redding, the Sasco Brook near Southport, the Naugatuck River at Beacon Falls, the Salmon River near East Hampton, and the Pendleton Brook near Clarks Falls.Ground-water levels continued to slowly rise in response to spring rainfall. However, water levels in several wells remained at or near record lows for late April.On April 3rd, the State of Connecticut issued a Drought Advisory for New London County and a Drought Watch for Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex Counties.