Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Drought

Weekly Drought Discussion

Published: Jun 18 | Valid: Jun 16 - Jun 23

Severe drought (D2) coverage expanded slightly into the Westerly area and moderate drought (D1) continues for most of western Rhode Island. Precipitation was poor for a second week in a row, as most areas received less than 0.20” of rain. Above-normal temperatures contributed to very high evaporation rates; soils are very dry as a result. Streamflows and groundwater levels continue to decline, with several groundwater monitoring wells in Washington County at or below the 5th percentile. The Governor’s statewide drought advisory continues. The next update of the U.S. Drought Monitor will be Thursday, June 25.

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