NORTH ANDOVER, MA – AUGUST 18: This is a dead Christmas tree seedling in a field of dead seedlings at Smolak Farms in North Andover, Mass., that died during this summer’s drought, Aug. 18, 2016. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, along with other state and local officials, held a press conference about the widespread and worsening drought hitting the state. (Photo by Dina Rudick/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Despite this morning’s rain, drought conditions are worsening across Massachusetts, prompting officials to ask residents to limit their water use outside.
The latest drought status puts about 90% of Massachusetts under what is considered significant drought conditions, according to data from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
That’s a significant jump from one week ago, when about 76% of Massachusetts was experiencing moderate drought, and a month ago when, just 25% of the state was in moderate drought.
Following lower than normal rainfall this spring, the department announced that conditions have deteriorated in many regions and declared a Level 2 Significant Drought designation across nearly the entire the state. The Islands and the state’s most western region are still experiencing mild drought conditions, while only the Cape is normal, the latest data shows.
EEA urges residents and businesses to limit outdoor watering to hand-held hoses or watering cans before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. in areas experiencing significant drought and to limit outdoor watering to no more than one day a week – before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. only – in areas experiencing mild drought.
Click here to learn which drought region you live in.
Fire dangers are also on the rise in the northern parts of Massachusetts, so environmental officials are urging people to use caution when grilling or burning anything outside. The state is only expecting conditions to worsen little rain forecast in the immediate future.
