Drought Starting To Take Hold In Vermont, Northeast

There was a light spattering of rain drops coming down in St. Albans, Vermont early this morning when I took the dogs out.

U.S. Drought Monitor sows moderate drought
in orange areas of the map and abnormally dry
conditions in yellow areas.

I'll take anything for rain at this point. The showers today aren't amounting to all that much, but at least it's something. It's getting drought-y out there.

The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts moderate drought now across central and southern Vermont, parts of northern New York, the southern half of New Hampshire and southwest Maine. Most of the rest of the region is described by the Drought Monitor as "abnormally dry."

So far, this isn't nearly as bad as it got during the summer and early autumn of 2016, but it's something to keep an eye on if the weather pattern doesn't change soon.

There's already one forest fire burning near Altona, New York that has so far charred about 320 acres, WCAX reports. (The fire was one major reason there was a smoky haze in the Champlain Valley Friday.)

Elsewhere, the forest fire danger in the region is at least moderate, and people are beginning to worry about their wells. Dry, brown lawns are now the norm across the area.

I'm luckier than most. It's dry in my neck of the woods in far northwestern Vermont, but a thunderstorm with a drenching downpour helped out some back on Tuesday. Other storms were scattered around the state on that day, but it was hit and miss. What we need is a statewide, regionwide drencher.

There is some hope in that regard on the horizon. Today's rain will amount to two-tenths of an inch or rain or less for most of us. So no biggy.  A very small percentage of us might be blessed with a brief downpour if any thunderstorms get going this afternoon. An even small percentage of us might get a quick thundershower Sunday afternoon.

Forest fire near Altona, in northern New York. Photo from
Beekmantown Fire Dept via WCAX

But after an oppressively hot Monday, we're looking at a shot of decent rain for Tuesday. At least that's what the thinking is now. We might end up being robbed, but Tuesday looks like it wants to feature a cold front making its way through the region.

It seems like the front has a lot of moisture to work with, so it might rain pretty hard at times when the front approaches and comes through.

After that, it appears we might go back to "how dry I am" for the remainder of next week.