Some positive drought news has actually arrived for once this summer, as the widespread rainfall earlier this week helped improve the wicked dry conditions across the state.
The deluge of rain significantly reduced the extreme drought region in the eastern part of the Bay State. Less than 9% of the state is now facing an extreme drought, down from more than 38% last week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Most of Massachusetts remains in a severe drought, however. The severe drought region was cut from 94% of the state to 86%.
The remaining 14% of the state is in a moderate drought.
“We had some improvement in the last week,” said Torry Gaucher, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, pointing to the especially heavy rainfall in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“We knew all that rain would definitely make some type of dent,” he added.
But the city of Boston — and all of Suffolk County — is part of the 9% of Massachusetts that remains in an extreme drought.
Since the start of the year, Boston has recorded only 18.9 inches of precipitation, which is about 9.88 inches below normal for this time of the year.
At this time last year, the city had recorded 40.24 inches of precipitation, well above normal for this time of the year.
“We had dealt with tropical systems last year, which brought heavy rains that were more widespread than earlier this week,” Gaucher said.
Could a tropical system deliver some much-needed rain to the region soon? Hurricane Earl is gaining steam out in the Atlantic Ocean, but the storm is expected to stay well offshore. The hurricane, however, should kick up surf along the Cape and Islands.
“Strong rip currents and high surf are to be expected Friday through this weekend,” Gaucher said. “And beaches don’t staff up after Labor Day weekend, so this is something people should definitely be aware of at ocean-facing beaches.”
The Bay State will be entering a dry pattern over the weekend, as an area of high pressure takes hold across the region, preventing any widespread soaking rain events.
The next chance for some rain showers will be Monday into Tuesday, Gaucher said.
“Early next week, there will be a threat for more showers to work their way in,” he added. “But the guidance is still up in the air.”
Rhode Island’s drought conditions improved more than Massachusetts’ during the last week. Several inches of rain dropped across the Ocean State, leading to dangerous flooding that stranded cars on the highway.
Less than 26% of Rhode Island is now facing an extreme drought, down from more than 53% last week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About two-thirds of the state is now in a severe drought, compared to all of the state last week.
“They definitely saw some great improvements down there,” Gaucher said.
Providence has measured 28.27 inches of precipitation so far this year, which is about 10 inches more than Boston. Rhode Island’s capital is still in a precipitation deficit, however, of almost 3 inches.