If the needed rainfall doesn’t arrive soon, drought conditions in Maine are likely to persist into the spring. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor data released Thursday, the area of Maine experiencing extreme drought has expanded to nearly 34% of the state. The rest of Maine is facing either severe or moderate drought conditions. These challenging conditions have gripped much of the state since mid-August.
Forecasters predict some rain this week; however, it is unlikely to make a significant impact. The National Weather Service estimates that Maine would require 150% of its normal rainfall—equivalent to 6 to 12 inches—to end the drought before the ground freezes. Once the soil freezes, precipitation can no longer effectively recharge aquifers, causing drought conditions to persist until the snow melts in spring.
This prolonged drought could pose serious problems for residents relying on well water. Many wells are running low or have already dried up, as the precipitation that typically replenishes groundwater isn’t soaking in. “There won’t be enough groundwater for some people to get through the winter,” said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Gray. “It’s definitely concerning.”
So far this year, 410 dry wells have been reported across Maine, according to data from the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). This number is more than the total reported in the past four years combined. Most of the newly dry wells are located in southern Maine, with Oxford County reporting at least 105 dry wells and Somerset County 47.
The drought has also impacted agriculture and other sectors. It has caused reductions in hay crops, shortened the growing season for many row crops, and may hurt next year’s berry and tree fruit harvests. Poland Spring has already begun scaling back water withdrawals at multiple sites due to falling groundwater levels.
Fire officials have responded to the dry conditions by stopping the issuance of burn permits. State officials reported that 747 wildfires have burned a total of 473 acres as of October 2.
Maine experienced its sixth-driest summer on record this year, receiving nearly 3 inches less rain than the historical average of 11 inches for summer months, according to the National Weather Service. Early in the season, residual soil moisture helped offset below-normal rainfall in June, as noted by the Maine Drought Task Force. However, by July, southern Maine began experiencing significantly reduced precipitation. Above-normal temperatures in August combined with very little rain created “flash drought” conditions. Since that time, drought conditions have spread and worsened across the state.
Palmer noted that the latest drought update shows extreme drought spreading into a portion of eastern Franklin County but otherwise remaining largely unchanged from the previous week. A key factor is that temperatures have started to cool as Maine enters the heart of fall. “That’s good news, because warmer temps create a stronger need for precipitation,” Palmer said. “Really warm temps with no rain parch the soil. That’s why we ended up with drought to start with.”
Historically, October and November are Maine’s wettest months, each averaging 4 to 5 inches of rainfall. While some much-needed rain is forecast for this week, the state still faces a significant challenge before the ground begins to freeze in November and December.
After a pleasant weekend, rain will arrive in Maine on Monday and Tuesday. The Portland area could see up to an inch of rain during those days, with additional precipitation expected later in the week, Palmer said. “It will be enough rain to keep the status quo,” he explained, “but not meaningfully improve drought conditions.”
https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/20/what-will-it-take-to-end-maines-drought-before-winter/