Current Drought Status
Following above-normal precipitation and continued groundwater improvement across most of the state in March, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Islands Region will be downgraded from a Level 1-Mild Drought to Level 0-Normal Conditions. Groundwater levels on Nantucket are still slightly below normal but have improved since last month and are expected to continue to improve due to forecasted weather conditions. All other regions of the state also remain in Level 0-Normal Conditions. The Drought Management Task Force will monitor conditions closely over the next month to ensure full recovery for Nantucket and will schedule future task force meetings as necessary.
Past Droughts and Declaration
Drought History
The information in this Drought Status History dates to 2001, when the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan was developed in response to a period of deficient precipitation that began in 1999. The most severe drought of modern times was the drought of the 1960s, equivalent to a drought emergency. A less severe drought occurred in the early 1980s.
The Commonwealth experienced another impactful drought in 2016-2017 with drought levels reaching Level 4 Drought (Warning) out of five levels of drought; the drought impacted the agricultural sector, some water supplies, the natural environment and many habitats and species. To read more about the drought, how it fared and the state responses and actions click here.
Past Drought Status Maps
- March 2024
- December 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- February 2023
- December 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022 (full-month)
- August 2022 (mid-month)
- July 2022 (full-month)
- July 2022 (mid-month)
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May-June 2020
- October 2019
- September 2019
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- December 2014
- October 2014
- November 2010
- October 2010
- August 2010