'Extreme Drought' Declared In Parts Of Massachusetts
BOSTON (CBS) – A rainy Wednesday wasn't enough to stop drought conditions from worsening in parts of Massachusetts.
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The National Weather Service said Thursday morning that an area north and west of Boston is now in an "extreme drought."
The drought was updated over Lawrence, MA at 8:30 AM raising the area to an "extreme drought". #DroughtMonitor pic.twitter.com/pFISNDmFt7
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 11, 2016
Some of the communities dealing with the extreme drought conditions include Chelmsford, Acton, Burlington, Waltham and Reading.
WBZ-TV Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher said he believes it's the first time that "extreme drought" conditions have been observed in Massachusetts since drought monitoring began in 1999. An extreme drought indicates a deficit of 8 to 9 inches of rain over 90 days.
New drought monitor and small area northwest of Boston now considered "extreme drought" pic.twitter.com/6PsxA702kc
— Terry Eliasen (@TerryWBZ) August 11, 2016
A wide swath of central and eastern Massachusetts is still classified as experiencing "severe drought," while moderate drought conditions exist on Cod Cop and western Massachusetts.
Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s for the next several days, but there will be a chance of thunderstorms each day.