Current Drought Status
January 7, 2021 – Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides today declared an end to the drought in the Commonwealth and a return to a Level 0 – Normal Condition across the state. The declarations were the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state and federal officials and other entities. The declaration followed almost three months of normal or above-normal rainfall, which contributed to the recovery of all six of the state’s drought indices.
The declaration of a Normal Condition means that the Drought Management Task Force no longer meets on a regular basis; however, state agencies will continue to closely monitor and assess conditions across the state, coordinate any needed dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare additional responses that may be needed in the future.
State officials ask the public to be mindful of the amount of water they are using, residents are asked to reduce indoor water use, address leaks as soon as possible, and for larger buildings and businesses to conduct water audits to identify areas of leaks and potential water conservation. All these steps will greatly help reduce water use to ensure essential needs such as drinking water and fire protection are being met, habitats have enough water to recover, and to sustain our water supplies and have enough for the environment.
Additional Resources
Past Drought Declarations Maps and History
Past Drought Status Maps
- 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
Drought History
The information in this drought history table 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.