Drought in Maine, November 1 to 30, 2025

Androscoggin County averaged 2.28 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 4th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, the county was under Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with local farmers and residents facing significant water and feed shortages. The USDM on November 25th had 95% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 5% in Extreme Drought (D3) located in the northern sector. On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Androscoggin County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. The agricultural sector in Androscoggin County, particularly around the Turner and Auburn areas, saw dramatic yield reductions. Many dairy and beef farmers in the county were forced to either purchase expensive out-of-state supplemental feed or reduce their herd sizes before the winter freeze. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Androscoggin was among the top six counties for reported dry wells. Many rural residents with shallow or dug wells lost water entirely. By late November, water storage in the Androscoggin River system was recorded at 52.8% capacity, which was 11.1% below the long-term average.

Cumberland County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-to-late November, 100% of the county was classified under Severe Drought (D2), with pockets of Extreme Drought (D3) still lingering from the peak of the crisis in late October. The USDM on November 25th had 62% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 38% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Cumberland County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. Cumberland County was one of the state's most heavily impacted areas for residential water shortages. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Cumberland was among the top three counties in Maine for reported dry wells (alongside Oxford and Somerset). Livestock producers in the Sebago Lake and Windham regions reported having to buy out-of-state hay months earlier than usual due to the failure of late-summer pasture growth. Some public water districts in Cumberland County reported ongoing supply challenges, though large-scale infrastructure in the Portland area helped mitigate widespread service interruptions. Technical support was prioritized for smaller community systems at risk of running dry.

Cumberland County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-to-late November, 100% of the county was classified under Severe Drought (D2), with pockets of Extreme Drought (D3) still lingering from the peak of the crisis in late October. The USDM on November 25th had 62% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 38% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Cumberland County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. Cumberland County was one of the state's most heavily impacted areas for residential water shortages. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Cumberland was among the top three counties in Maine for reported dry wells (alongside Oxford and Somerset). Livestock producers in the Sebago Lake and Windham regions reported having to buy out-of-state hay months earlier than usual due to the failure of late-summer pasture growth. Some public water districts in Cumberland County reported ongoing supply challenges, though large-scale infrastructure in the Portland area helped mitigate widespread service interruptions. Technical support was prioritized for smaller community systems at risk of running dry.

Cumberland County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-to-late November, 100% of the county was classified under Severe Drought (D2), with pockets of Extreme Drought (D3) still lingering from the peak of the crisis in late October. The USDM on November 25th had 62% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 38% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Cumberland County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. Cumberland County was one of the state's most heavily impacted areas for residential water shortages. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Cumberland was among the top three counties in Maine for reported dry wells (alongside Oxford and Somerset). Livestock producers in the Sebago Lake and Windham regions reported having to buy out-of-state hay months earlier than usual due to the failure of late-summer pasture growth. Some public water districts in Cumberland County reported ongoing supply challenges, though large-scale infrastructure in the Portland area helped mitigate widespread service interruptions. Technical support was prioritized for smaller community systems at risk of running dry.

Somerset County averaged 2.61 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew near 6 inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through November on record. By the middle of the month, the county was primarily classified under Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with some eastern and southern portions touching Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 25th had 22% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 78% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Somerset County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. The county met the criteria of experiencing at least eight consecutive weeks of Severe Drought (D2) during the critical growing season. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Somerset was among the top counties for reported dry wells. Due to the failure of pastures in late summer and autumn, Somerset livestock producers were forced to begin feeding their winter hay stocks as early as September. By November, many farmers had already exhausted their local supply and were forced to purchase expensive out-of-state hay. Significant reductions were reported in late-harvest crops, and orchard owners noted that the lack of soil moisture in November threatened the bud set for the 2026 season. Lower river levels on the Kennebec River (which runs through the county) contributed to a significant drop in regional hydropower generation, which was reportedly operating at roughly 50% of its normal capacity for that time of year.

Somerset County averaged 2.61 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew near 6 inches, making it the 3rd driest stretch between July through November on record. By the middle of the month, the county was primarily classified under Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with some eastern and southern portions touching Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 25th had 22% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 78% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Somerset County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. The county met the criteria of experiencing at least eight consecutive weeks of Severe Drought (D2) during the critical growing season. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Somerset was among the top counties for reported dry wells. Due to the failure of pastures in late summer and autumn, Somerset livestock producers were forced to begin feeding their winter hay stocks as early as September. By November, many farmers had already exhausted their local supply and were forced to purchase expensive out-of-state hay. Significant reductions were reported in late-harvest crops, and orchard owners noted that the lack of soil moisture in November threatened the bud set for the 2026 season. Lower river levels on the Kennebec River (which runs through the county) contributed to a significant drop in regional hydropower generation, which was reportedly operating at roughly 50% of its normal capacity for that time of year.

Waldo County averaged 2.73 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. The USDM on November 25th had 100% of the county in Extreme Drought (D3). The impacts were categorized by a critical lack of groundwater recharge and heavy losses in the local farming sector. On November 21, 2025, Waldo County received dual recognition from the USDA due to the intensity of the drought as a Primary Natural Disaster Area (alongside Hancock, Knox, and Washington) because it suffered through Severe Drought for eight or more consecutive weeks during the growing season. The drought severely impacted Waldo County’s diverse agricultural landscape. An estimated 8,184 acres of hay and 6,616 acres of haylage in the county were directly impacted. Over 3,400 cattle and 1,500 sheep in the county were estimated to be living in drought-affected areas, leading to increased costs for water hauling and supplemental nutrition.

Waldo County averaged 2.73 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. The USDM on November 25th had 100% of the county in Extreme Drought (D3). The impacts were categorized by a critical lack of groundwater recharge and heavy losses in the local farming sector. On November 21, 2025, Waldo County received dual recognition from the USDA due to the intensity of the drought as a Primary Natural Disaster Area (alongside Hancock, Knox, and Washington) because it suffered through Severe Drought for eight or more consecutive weeks during the growing season. The drought severely impacted Waldo County’s diverse agricultural landscape. An estimated 8,184 acres of hay and 6,616 acres of haylage in the county were directly impacted. Over 3,400 cattle and 1,500 sheep in the county were estimated to be living in drought-affected areas, leading to increased costs for water hauling and supplemental nutrition.

York County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew near 7 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. The USDM on November 25th had 85% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 14% in Extreme Drought (D3). York County was among the top six counties in Maine for reported dry wells. On November 21, 2025, the USDA designated several Maine counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas. York County was officially listed as a contiguous eligible county, allowing local farmers to access federal emergency loans and financial relief to recover from crop and production losses.

York County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew near 7 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. The USDM on November 25th had 85% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 14% in Extreme Drought (D3). York County was among the top six counties in Maine for reported dry wells. On November 21, 2025, the USDA designated several Maine counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas. York County was officially listed as a contiguous eligible county, allowing local farmers to access federal emergency loans and financial relief to recover from crop and production losses.

Kennebec County averaged 2.24 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, while some areas saw slight surface moisture, the county remained entrenched in Severe (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) conditions, leading to major federal disaster interventions. The USDM on November 25th had 100% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Kennebec County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. Kennebec was one of the few counties to hit the Extreme Drought (D3) threshold during the growing season, qualifying it for the highest level of federal agricultural support. An estimated 13,613 acres of hay and 12,090 acres of haylage in the county were affected. The lack of autumn regrowth forced farmers to begin feeding their winter hay supplies in early September, months ahead of schedule. Roughly 7,764 cattle and 659 sheep were living in drought-stressed areas. Producers reported significant costs associated with hauling water as local farm ponds and streams went dry. Late-season harvest reports for apples and honey showed significant declines, with experts noting that the 2025 drought would likely stunt the bud set for the 2026 fruit season. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the streamgage at North Sidney hit the lowest flow levels on record for that time of year. This affected aquatic habitats and regional water management plans. While November brought some rain and snow, it was insufficient to recharge deep aquifers. Private well failures were common across the county.

Knox County averaged 2.82 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 4th driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-November, the county was experiencing Severe Drought (D2) conditions, with some eastern coastal areas occasionally reaching Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 250th had 80% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 20% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Knox County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area (alongside Hancock, Waldo, and Washington counties). Approximately 3,949 acres of hay and 1,296 acres of haylage in Knox County were severely impacted. The lack of a late-season harvest forced many farmers to begin feeding their winter hay stocks months ahead of schedule. An estimated 586 cattle and 689 sheep in the county were directly affected by the drought. Producers reported increased costs for hauling water and purchasing supplemental feed as local pastures turned brown and dormant. While light rain and early snow provided some surface-level moisture, the groundwater drought persisted. Many private well owners in the Midcoast region reported dry wells, particularly in coastal areas where shallow wells are common.

Lincoln County averaged 2.38 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 7 inches, making it the 2nd driest stretch between July through November on record. While coastal areas saw minor surface-level relief from scattered rain and early snow, the county remained in a state of Severe Drought (D2) throughout the month. The USDM on November 25th had 50% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 50% in Extreme Drought. On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially recognized the severity of the situation by designating several Maine counties as disaster areas. An estimated 2,979 acres of hay and 1,041 acres of haylage in Lincoln County were impacted. The lack of a third cut of hay meant local farmers were forced to purchase expensive out-of-state feed much earlier than usual. Data indicated that approximately 1,193 sheep and 437 cattle in the county were directly affected by the parched pastures and diminished local water sources. While rivers and lakes showed slight improvements due to late-autumn storms, groundwater levels the source for most private wells in the county continued to decline.

Franklin County averaged 2.80 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. While much of the county was in Severe Drought (D2), the southern portion of the county reached Extreme Drought (D3) levels, triggering major federal and state emergency responses. The USDM on November 25th had 48% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 52% in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Franklin County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Franklin was among the top six counties in the state for reported dry wells. Rural residents, particularly those with shallow or dug wells, faced critical water shortages. The Sandy River and Carrabassett River saw flows reach the 10th percentile or lower for the month of November, impacting local trout habitats and regional hydroelectric capacity. The drought decimated the third-cut of hay, which is vital for wintering livestock in the Western Maine mountains. Approximately 5,620 acres of hay and 3,464 acres of haylage in Franklin County were impacted. Farmers were forced to begin feeding winter hay stocks as early as September, leading to a shortage by November. An estimated 1,571 cattle and 363 sheep in the county were directly affected by dried-up farm ponds and poor pasture conditions, increasing the operational costs for local mountain farms.

Franklin County averaged 2.80 inches of precipitation in November, approximately an inch below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 6 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. While much of the county was in Severe Drought (D2), the southern portion of the county reached Extreme Drought (D3) levels, triggering major federal and state emergency responses. The USDM on November 25th had 48% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 52% in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Franklin County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. According to the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), Franklin was among the top six counties in the state for reported dry wells. Rural residents, particularly those with shallow or dug wells, faced critical water shortages. The Sandy River and Carrabassett River saw flows reach the 10th percentile or lower for the month of November, impacting local trout habitats and regional hydroelectric capacity. The drought decimated the third-cut of hay, which is vital for wintering livestock in the Western Maine mountains. Approximately 5,620 acres of hay and 3,464 acres of haylage in Franklin County were impacted. Farmers were forced to begin feeding winter hay stocks as early as September, leading to a shortage by November. An estimated 1,571 cattle and 363 sheep in the county were directly affected by dried-up farm ponds and poor pasture conditions, increasing the operational costs for local mountain farms.

Oxford County averaged 2.78 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 1.5 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew above 5 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. While most of the county was classified under Severe Drought (D2), southern portions of the county frequently reached Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 25th had 23% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 77% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Oxford County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. By November, the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported that Oxford County led the state in dry well submissions. At one point, nearly 20% of all dry well reports in Maine originated from Oxford County alone. Unlike surface water, which saw minor improvements from November rains, the county's deep aquifers continued to decline. One monitoring station in Oxford showed a steady, uninterrupted decline in groundwater levels from August through late November. Local emergency management offices and 211 Maine were heavily utilized by residents seeking bottled water or assistance in locating well-drilling services, which saw months-long backlogs. Local orchards and row-crop farms reported stunted growth and reduced yields. Agricultural experts warned that the lack of moisture in November would likely cause die-back in perennial fruit crops, impacting the 2026 harvest.

Oxford County averaged 2.78 inches of precipitation in November, approximately 1.5 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew above 5 inches, making it the 5th driest stretch between July through November on record. While most of the county was classified under Severe Drought (D2), southern portions of the county frequently reached Extreme Drought (D3) levels. The USDM on November 25th had 23% of the county in Moderate Drought (D1) and 77% of the county in Severe Drought (D2). On November 21, 2025, the USDA officially designated Oxford County as a Primary Natural Disaster Area. By November, the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) reported that Oxford County led the state in dry well submissions. At one point, nearly 20% of all dry well reports in Maine originated from Oxford County alone. Unlike surface water, which saw minor improvements from November rains, the county's deep aquifers continued to decline. One monitoring station in Oxford showed a steady, uninterrupted decline in groundwater levels from August through late November. Local emergency management offices and 211 Maine were heavily utilized by residents seeking bottled water or assistance in locating well-drilling services, which saw months-long backlogs. Local orchards and row-crop farms reported stunted growth and reduced yields. Agricultural experts warned that the lack of moisture in November would likely cause die-back in perennial fruit crops, impacting the 2026 harvest.

Sagadahoc County averaged 2.39 inches of precipitation in November, almost 2 inches below normal. The rainfall deficits carried over from summer grew over 7 inches, making it the 2nd driest stretch between July through November on record. By mid-to-late November, 100% of the county's population was living in Severe Drought (D2) conditions. There was some improvement late in the month, with the USDM on November 25th classifying 35% of the county in Severe Drought (D2) and 65% in Extreme Drought (D3). On November 21, 2025, the USDA issued a natural disaster declaration for Maine. While Sagadahoc was not a primary county, it was officially designated as a Contiguous Eligible County. Approximately 2,843 acres of hay and 1,177 acres of haylage within the county were affected by the drought. The lack of autumn green-up meant livestock owners had to dip into winter hay supplies months early. Estimates showed roughly 608 cattle and 282 sheep in the county were directly impacted by water and feed shortages, leading to increased operational costs for local farms.