November 25 – Maine finally got some much-needed rain, but it can’t make up for an abnormally dry fall.
Observation sites across the state have recorded about 1 to 1.5 inches of rain since Thursday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Another half inch of rain is expected on Tuesday.
“]After a few dry weeks, Maine will sing in the rain[/mtm-related-link]
Portland received about 1.3 inches of rain between Thursday and Saturday.
New England has been experiencing drought this fall. Most of the region was still “abnormally dry” or in moderate, severe or extreme drought on Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
About 70% of Maine was in drought conditions Thursday.
Much of northwestern, western, central and southern Maine, including Cumberland County, has experienced moderate drought, and much of the rest of the state has been abnormally dry. The southernmost tip of York County was in a severe drought.
The recent rainfall, while beneficial, will not have a major impact on Maine’s precipitation deficit, said Derek Schroeter, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Gray.
Most weather monitoring stations in Maine are reporting precipitation deficits of 6 to 9 inches for the fall season, Schroeter said.
Portland currently has a rainfall deficit of 7.29 inches this fall. With last week’s precipitation, this year is expected to narrowly surpass the record for the city’s driest fall season yet.
A lack of rainfall in September and October, combined with high winds and dry leaves, created conditions for late-season wildfires across the region.
In early November, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said rangers had responded to about 60 to 70 wildfires over the course of a few weeks, more than normal for that time of year.
Portland firefighters extinguished a half-acre brushfire near West Commercial Street on Nov. 9 during a “very high” fire warning.
As of this weekend, the state will see some relief, with fire risk at ‘low’ levels for most of the state and ‘moderate’ in southern areas.
Open burn permits – which are only valid under a moderate or low fire warning – are now available because the risk has been reduced.
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