Over a million Mainers are currently experiencing unusually dry conditions as the state’s unexpected drought spreads.
Additionally, the risk of wildfires and dry weather will continue to be high in the foreseeable future despite the cooler temperatures.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that around 80% of Maine is in some form of drought, which is essentially unchanged from last week.
However, according to the monitor, the state’s moderate drought area has grown, and severe drought conditions have established themselves in the Penobscot Bay and Downeast regions.
According to the sensor, only 4% of the state had unusually dry conditions less than a month ago.
The majority of the state has received less than half the typical amount of precipitation this summer, according to Michael Clair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray. He predicted that relief for the state might not come until later this fall.
“Right now unless we see a lot of rain any rain that does fall is going to get sucked up by the plants that are active so it wouldn’t really reach into the ground system,” Clair stated.
The majority of the state is now at risk of wildfires due to dry weather. Online burn permits for the southern two-thirds of the state have been halted by the Maine Forest Service.
This summer has seen an exceptionally high number of fires throughout the state, according to Service Fire Prevention Specialist Terri Teller. In July and August, the forest service reported 245 wildfires, which is more than twice the historical norm for those two months, according to Teller.
“We always have some fire activity but we are seeing more of it and that is really due to the recently dry conditions here in Maine,” said Teller.
