Drought in Massachusetts

Events

208

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

None recorded

• Drought in Massachusetts, October 1 to 31, 201623 eventsRainfall was above normal in October for Eastern Massachusetts and the Central Hills, but remained below normal in Western Massachusetts. Values since July 2016 for all areas remained below normal.
• Drought in Massachusetts, November 1 to 30, 201622 eventsRainfall was below normal for all of Massachusetts during November, with amounts in Southeast Massachusetts ranging from near 2 to 3 inches below normal. A Drought Warning remains in effect for most of Massachusetts. A Drought Advisory continued for Cape Cod and the Islands.
• Drought in Massachusetts, December 1 to 31, 201621 eventsPrecipitation was below normal for most of Massachusetts during December, but with areas of above normal amounts along the North Shore and around Quabbin Reservoir in Central Massachusetts.
• Drought in Massachusetts, September 1 to 30, 201621 eventsSeptember brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. For many, the drought began in July 2016. At this point, this is a drought categorized largely by well below normal precipitation and groundwater and agricultural impacts.
• Drought in Massachusetts, January 1 to 31, 201719 eventsPrecipitation was close to normal for most of Massachusetts during January, but below normal over Southeast Massachusetts. Well above normal temperatures allowed for periods of rainfall and snow melt, prompting an increase in river and stream levels, and also reservoir levels.
• Drought in Massachusetts, April 12 to 30, 201215 eventsThe U.S. Drought Monitor declared a severe drought across Rhode Island, the eastern half of Massachusetts, and most of northern Connecticut. A moderate drought was declared over western Massachusetts and southwestern New Hampshire.
• Drought in Massachusetts, August 1 to 31, 201615 eventsAugust brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. By the end of the month, most, if not all of Massachusetts was in a drought designation. For many, the drought began in July 2016.
• Drought in Massachusetts, May 1 to 15, 201214 eventsThe U.S. Drought Monitor declared a severe drought across Rhode Island, the eastern half of Massachusetts, and most of northern Connecticut. A moderate drought was declared over western Massachusetts and southwestern New Hampshire.
• Drought in Massachusetts, March 1 to 31, 20179 eventsPrecipitation was below normal in all areas except the Northeast, where it was one-quarter inch above normal. Average temperatures for March were between 2.5 and 5.1 degrees below normal. Average monthly streamflows were below normal in all areas except the West.
• Drought in Massachusetts, February 1 to 28, 20179 eventsPrecipitation was one-half inch to one and one-half inches below normal for most of Massachusetts during February, but one-quarter inch above normal in the Northeast.
• Drought in Massachusetts, July 5 to 31, 20166 eventsJuly brought the start of drought conditions in parts of southern New England. Much of the water year was wrought with below normal precipitation for much, if not all of the region.
• Drought in Massachusetts, April 1 to 4, 20176 eventsApril precipitation was above normal in most of Massachusetts, and as much as 2 to 3 inches above normal in Northeast Massachusetts. Central Massachusetts reported amounts that ranged from normal to an inch above normal.
• Drought in Massachusetts, August 23 to 31, 20164 eventsAugust brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. By the end of the month, most, if not all of Massachusetts was in a drought designation. For many, the drought began in July 2016.
• Drought in Massachusetts, April 24 to 30, 20123 eventsThe U.S. Drought Monitor declared a severe drought across Rhode Island, the eastern half of Massachusetts, and most of northern Connecticut. A moderate drought was declared over western Massachusetts and southwestern New Hampshire.
• Drought in Massachusetts, April 30, 19992 eventsTotal precipitation for the month of April at Logan International Airport in Boston was only 0.83 inch. This broke the record for the least amount of precipitation in April, which was 0.93 inch set in 1892.
• Drought in Massachusetts, September 13 to 30, 20162 eventsSeptember brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. For many, the drought began in July 2016. At this point, this is a drought categorized largely by well below normal precipitation and groundwater and agricultural impacts.
• Drought in Massachusetts, July 26 to 31, 20162 eventsJuly brought the start of drought conditions in parts of southern New England. Much of the water year was wrought with below normal precipitation for much, if not all of the region.
• Drought in Massachusetts, October 1 to 11, 20222 eventsThe United States Drought Monitor (USDM) continued to indicate severe drought conditions across eastern portions of Berkshire County in Massachusetts into the early part of October before it was downgraded on October 11.
• Drought in Massachusetts, September 1 to 30, 20222 eventsThe United States Drought Monitor (USDM) continued to indicate severe drought conditions across much of Berkshire County in Massachusetts through the month of September.
• Drought in Massachusetts, August 16 to 31, 20222 eventsThe United States Drought Monitor (USDM) indicated severe drought conditions across much of Berkshire County in Massachusetts starting on August 16, 2022.
• Drought in Massachusetts, December 1 to 16, 20242 eventsAbnormally dry conditions across portions of western Massachusetts resulted in the development of severe drought conditions (Severe - D2) across portions of Berkshire County starting on November 12, 2024 and continuing into December.
• Drought in Massachusetts, November 12 to 30, 20242 eventsAbnormally dry conditions across portions of western Massachusetts resulted in the development of severe drought conditions (Severe - D2) across portions of Berkshire County starting on November 12, 2024 and continuing into December.
• Drought in Massachusetts, April 1 to 30, 19991 eventRainfall was well short of normal across western Massachusetts during the month of April. North Adams reported only 1.05 inches of rainfall for the entire month, which was 2.98 inches below normal. Pittsfield reported just 1.49 which was 2.38 inches below normal.
• Drought in Massachusetts, August 1 to 31, 19991 eventAugust 99 was the peak of the long term drought across Western Massachusetts that began in July of 98. The fourteen month stretch, ending in August, saw rainfall and melted snowfall throughout the region tallying up to only about 80 percent of normal.
• Drought in Massachusetts, June 30, 19991 eventAt Logan International Airport in Boston, only a trace of precipitation fell during the month of June. This made June 1999 the driest June on record in Boston. The previous record was 0.23 inches, which was set in June, 1912. Records in Boston date back to 1872.

Drought everywhereEvery kind of event in Massachusetts

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.