After a quiet winter and drier than normal spring, parts of western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut are in a moderate drought.
The drought stretches from eastern Hampshire and Hampden counties in Massachusetts all the way into coastal Maine, as well as parts of northwestern Connecticut. Precipitation levels at Bradley International Airport are almost six inches below normal since January, and down twelve inches since 2015.
Alan Dunham is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts. He said no soaking rain is expected in the near future. As for the long term:
“Taking a look all the way out to the rest of the summer, which would take us all the way to September, equal chances of above or below normal, so there are no real good, strong indicators right now,” Dunham said.
Much of the rest of New England is being called abnormally dry, the beginning stage of a drought. The area around Pittsfield is one damper exception.
This report was originally published by New England Public Radio.
