Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Drought

Weekly Drought Discussion

Jun 9 - Jun 16, 2026

Severe drought (D2) was introduced to Bristol County, eastern Kent County, the Providence metro area, and most of southern Rhode Island – including Block Island. Moderate drought (D1) continues for the western half of the state. Thunderstorms last weekend brought 0.50”-0.75” of rain to northern and central areas – not enough to improve drought conditions. Streamflows are very low for mid-June. Further, groundwater levels continue to decline after a brief spike at the end of May. Multiple U.S. Geological Survey monitoring wells in Washington County are within the 10th percentile. The statewide drought advisory continues. The next update of the U.S. Drought Monitor will be Thursday, June 18. 

What is Drought?

Drought is the natural deficiency of precipitation over weeks, months, and occasionally, years. 30-year precipitation averages, known as climate normals, provide the historical context behind drought. The spatial extent of drought can vary widely, as the Rhode Island's diverse terrain and coastal location create microclimates that respond to drought differently.

Progression of Drought

  1. Meteorological Drought

    All droughts begin as a period of dryness (rainfall deficit). Annual seasonal dry periods are not to be considered droughts. Characteristics of meteorological drought include periods of high temperatures, high winds, and low relative humidity. Meteorological droughts increase the occurrences of forest fires. 

  2. Agricultural Drought

    After a few weeks, the agricultural community is impacted by the effects of drought, including precipitation deficits, inadequate soil moisture, and low water levels in irrigation ponds. Plants become stressed and lead to reduced crop yields. 

  3. Hydrological Drought

    Stream flows, reservoir and lake levels, and ground water tables decline after long periods of dryness. Hydrological droughts lag the occurrence of meteorological and agricultural droughts because it takes more time for precipitation deficits to impact water suppliers. View hydrological drought conditions on the Rhode Island Water Resources Board Drought Monitoring Dashboard. 

  4. Returning to Normal Conditions

    When precipitation patterns return to normal, the agricultural community is the first to recover. Soil water reserves are replenished first, followed by stream flows, reservoirs and lake levels, and finally groundwater tables. Users of groundwater, often the last to be affected by drought during its onset, may be the last to experience a return to normal conditions. Typically, 3 months of near normal precipitation and 2 months of normal groundwater levels are required to end a drought.

Additional Resources