Drought in Maine

Events

524

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$19 million

• Drought in Maine, September 1 to 30, 2020$9.0 million · 18 eventsDry conditions developed rapidly across western Maine starting in the middle of May. The period May 16 to June 25 was exceedingly dry. There was some relief in late June and July, especially in the Western Maine Mountains and parts of the Mid-Coast. Southern Maine.
• Drought in Maine, October 1 to 31, 2020$9.0 million · 18 eventsDry conditions developed rapidly across western Maine starting in the middle of May. The period May 16 to June 25 was exceedingly dry. There was some relief in late June and July, especially in the Western Maine Mountains and parts of the Mid-Coast. Southern Maine.
• Drought in Maine, November 1 to 30, 2020$840,000 · 7 eventsDry conditions developed rapidly across western Maine starting in the middle of May. The period May 16 to June 25 was exceedingly dry. There was some relief in late June and July, especially in the Western Maine Mountains and parts of the Mid-Coast. Southern Maine.
• Drought in Maine, April 1 to 30, 199924 eventsLack of precipitation during April throughout the southern and central parts of the state initiated concerns for crop and domestic water supplies. In Portland, April 1999 was the driest April ever recorded, with only 0.28 inches of precipitation during the month.
• Drought in Maine, August 1 to 31, 199923 eventsWells in the state continued to run dry during the month and crops wilted due to the lack of rainfall. Fire danger remained in the moderate to severe category for the month. One town, Castine, implemented mandatory water conservation measures.
• Drought in Maine, December 1 to 31, 202518 eventsDecember 2025 brought little relief to Maine's drought conditions, as winter took hold and frozen ground effectively halted any potential for significant groundwater recharge.
• Drought in Maine, November 1 to 30, 202518 eventsNovember 2025 brought modest improvements to Maine’s drought conditions, primarily driven by the transition into cooler weather and a significant reduction in vegetative water demand.
• Drought in Maine, September 1 to 30, 202518 eventsThe period from June through September 2025 saw a dramatic worsening of drought conditions across Maine, establishing it as a historically severe event comparable to the 2001 drought.
• Drought in Maine, February 1 to 28, 202618 eventsThroughout February 2026, drought conditions in Maine remained stable in their classification from the USDM, maintaining extreme to severe drought conditions.
• Drought in Maine, March 1 to 31, 202618 eventsDespite the seasonal transition, Maine remained locked in drought. Persistent precipitation deficits over the winter, falling as low as 50% of normal in southern areas during March, prevented categorical recovery.
• Drought in Maine, January 1 to 30, 202618 eventsAt the start of 2026, drought conditions were widespread across the state. Drought conditions as Percent Area of the state: D3 - 1%, D2 - 54%, D1 - 55%.
• Drought in Maine, April 1 to 30, 202618 eventsIn Maine, hydrologic conditions varied significantly by region. The upper Kennebec and Androscoggin basins received above normal precipitation, which provided some localized relief.
• Drought in Maine, June 1 to 30, 199917 eventsDry conditions continued in June. The Palmer Drought Severity Index dropped to a moderate drought category. Forest fire danger was high. Streamflow conditions also continued to be below normal with the Carrabassett River reaching its second lowest level in 77 years.
• Drought in Maine, July 1 to 31, 199917 eventsDry conditions persisted through July with some locations reporting only 20 percent of the normal rainfall. Agriculture was again the hardest hit. Most fruits and vegetables were undersized and the harvest was (or will be) much earlier than normal because of the dry conditions.
• Drought in Maine, December 1 to 31, 200117 eventsDecember was another month in an unending string of drier than normal months. Precipitation ranged from 1.33 inches at Long Falls Dam (1.71 inches below normal) up to 3.89 inches at West Rockport (1.09 inches below normal).
• Drought in Maine, May 1 to 26, 200117 eventsThe lack of significant rainfall in April and May resulted in dangerously dry ground conditions throughout the state. Numerous wildfires were reported throughout the state and the dry conditions also stunted the growth of spring crops.
• Drought in Maine, August 1, 200117 eventsBelow normal rainfall caused drought conditions to worsen across the state during August.
• Drought in Maine, October 1 to 31, 200117 eventsDrought conditions continued to worsen throughout the western and mid-coast sections of the state as dry weather continued. The drought conditions were classified in the severe level according to the Plamer Drought Severity Index.
• Drought in Maine, November 1 to 30, 200117 eventsDrought conditions continued to worsen throughout the western and mid-coast sections of the state as dry weather continued. Several towns in Maine instituted voluntary water restrictions; Boothbay Harbor initiated mandatory restrictions.
• Drought in Maine, May 1 to 31, 202617 eventsSignificant short-term drought relief was observed across Maine in May 2026, highlighted by a mid-May soaking rain that markedly improved drought categories in the mountains and foothills.
• Drought in Maine, October 1 to 19, 202011 eventsA change in the pattern led to more frequent rain events across much of northern and eastern Maine during October. The change in pattern developed early in the month and persisted through the month.
• Drought in Maine, September 1 to 30, 202010 eventsThe unusually dry conditions which initiatlly developed from late May to early June persisted during September. Thus...areas in severe drought at the end of August generally remained in severe drought through September.
• Drought in Maine, August 1 to 31, 202210 eventsDrought conditions developed across Maine and New Hampshire in August 2022. According to the August 2nd, 2022 release of the United States Drought Monitor, 76% of the National Weather Service Weather (NWS) Forecast Office Gray Maine (WFO GYX) County Warning Area (CWA)…
• Drought in Maine, September 1 to 30, 202210 eventsAccording to the September 1st, 2022 release of the United States Drought Monitor, |84% of the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office Gray Maine County Warning Area (CWA) experienced drought conditions. Roughly 38% of the area was under moderate drought conditions.
• Drought in Maine, October 1 to 31, 20259 eventsDrought in northern and central Maine persisted throughout October, as precipitation deficits continued and/or worsened throughout the month.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Maine

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.