Drought

The Nevada Department of Wildlife has been flying helicopters to refill guzzlers with water for bighorn sheep that live in the Muddy Mountains. KVVU-TV FOX 5 Las Vegas (Nev.), March 7, 2025

The Oklahoma Drought Commission met in Oklahoma City on Thursday, Feb. 27, and state climatologist Gary McManus briefed the group on the drought conditions in Oklahoma. McManus reported that things were looking dire for the western part of the state and North Central Oklahoma, neither of which has received a quarter inch of rain in more than 100 days. He also noted that reservoirs in southwest, north central, and some in south central Oklahoma still needed a few feet of rain to return to close to normal levels. Wheat in Jefferson County was never able to be grazed, so ranchers were supplementing and selling more cattle. Southwest Ledger (Lawton, Okla.), March 3, 2025

Columbia County declared a state of emergency effective March 11, which prohibits all outdoor burning. The ban will remain in effect until March 16 when the New York State burn ban starts. The declaration was made because severe drought poses a threat to public safety. WRGB (Schenectady, N.Y.), March 11, 2025

Wisconsin has already had at least 151 wildfires that have blackened nearly 430 acres as the absence of late winter snow cover, drought, and high winds have combined to create prime fire conditions. Urban Milwaukee (Wis.), March 11, 2025

Delaware had more than 420 fires statewide from November 2024 through February 2025. The Delaware Forest Service responded to 15 of those blazes. On average, from 2020 to 2023, the Delaware Forest Service responded to five wildfires a year, but in 2024 it was called to 22 wildfires. Morning Ag Clips (Greenwich, N.Y.), March 11, 2025

The Delaware Forest Service urged all residents to refrain from outdoor burning as drought and current weather conditions have led to an increase in wildfires in the state. Morning Ag Clips (Greenwich, N.Y.), March 11, 2025

The sap collecting season began differently than usual in the Williamsburg, Massachusetts area. The sap did not flow as usual—it trickled. The sugar content was roughly half of normal. So it took twice the usual amount of sap to yield a gallon of syrup. Some of the trees did not look healthy, so those trees were not tapped. Another sugarhouse operator in Deerfield experienced the same initial meager sap flow and lower sugar content, but the sugar content in his trees’ sap has recently risen to normal levels. Drought in the region likely affected the trees, opined an area syrup maker, after leaves turned brown and dropped from the branches earlier than usual. Trees did not have enough time to photosynthesize and produce sugar as usual after dropping their leaves early in 2024. Athol Daily News (Mass.), March 10, 2025

North Dakota Gov. Armstrong declared a statewide fire emergency and activated the State Emergency Operations Plans as warmer than normal temperatures and below normal precipitation has led to drought and increased the fire risk. The declaration has all state agencies like the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota National Guard on standby. The order expires on May 31. KFGO-AM Mighty 790 (Fargo, N.D.), March 10, 2025

The Connecticut River Valley region was categorized as being in a Level 3 Critical Drought, a move from Level 2 Significant Drought. The state has dealt with nearly seven months of below normal precipitation. Massachusetts residents were urged to conserve water as much of the state remained in critical or significant drought after almost seven months of below normal precipitation. WFXT (Boston, Ma.), March 7, 2025

A burn ban took effect for Corpus Christi on March 7. It prohibits bonfires and recreational fires at beaches and city parks within city limits. Many fires have burned in Corpus Christi and in other parts of South Texas amid drought conditions. The ban will remain through March 23. Caller Times (Corpus Christi, Texas), March 9, 2025

Navajo and Apache counties adopted fire restrictions as historically dry winter conditions throughout the region increased wildfire danger. KNAU Arizona Public Radio (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Feb 28, 2025

Stage 1 fire restrictions took effect in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests on Friday, February 28 due to extremely dry winter conditions. The wildfire danger has increased, notably in the White Mountains, as precipitation and snowpack were at record lows. Under stage 1 restrictions, campfires and charcoal and wood stoves were only allowed in developed forest recreation sites and smoking was only allowed inside vehicles or buildings. KNAU Arizona Public Radio (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Feb 28, 2025

North and South Carolina had 175 wildfires over the first weekend in March which were driven by high winds and unusually dry conditions. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on March 2 and issued a statewide burning ban. The largest blaze burned in the Carolina Forest in South Carolina’s Horry County. It blackened 1,600 acres. The next largest fire burned about 800 acres in Georgetown County and caused the evacuations of Price George. Firefighters in North Carolina fought a fire near Tryon near the South Carolina border. On Monday, March 3, the fire was 30% contained after charring 481 acres. WLEC (Sandusky, Ohio), March 6, 2025

More than 200 wildfires have begun in Georgia in the past six or seven days. Low humidity and winds were to return, so the public was urged not to burn leaves or other materials until conditions improve. WRGA 1470 AM (Rome, Ga.), March 6, 2025

Aqua Pennsylvania reminded customers that a mandatory water conservation notice remained in effect for communities served by the Roaring Creek Water Plant in Northumberland, Columbia and Schuylkill counties. The water conservation order was issued on Nov. 18. Customers could experience service impacts if the restrictions were not observed. The News-Item (Shamokin, Pa.), March 3, 2025

The City of Cedar Park moved to stage 3 water conservation measures on March 1 as drought persisted in Central Texas. Water customers were permitted to water outdoors once weekly. FOX 7 Austin (Texas), March 3, 2025

Officials from the village of Carrollton met with a company looking into building a power plant that needs to purchase water for operation. The Carrollton officials declined the opportunity because the village was still running low on water after drought in 2024. Carrollton Free Press Standard (Ohio), Feb 28, 2025

Canyon Lake was 48.5% full and 29.5 feet low on Feb. 28. A new daily record low is set with each passing day as the lake has not been this low since it filled in the 1960s. All 23 boat ramps on the lake, including the one on the Guadalupe River just above the lake, were closed to public access. Only boat ramp 19 was open to members of Canyon Lake Marina. Now it is legal for the public to launch non-motorized watercraft like canoes or kayaks from county boat ramps 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 22, and 23. News 4 San Antonio (Texas), Feb 28, 2025

A Bethlehem farmer remarked on the brown color of his field, noting that it ought to be almost a green carpet or at least have green vegetation. The winter wheat ought to be three to six inches tall, but rows were not visible. WFMZ 69 News Online (Allentown, Pa.), Feb 26, 2025

A corn grower in San Patricio County halted planting due to freezing temperatures and dry soil. Farmers typically aim to get the crop planted before Valentine’s Day, so one would typically see planters in use. Successful Farming (Des Moines, Iowa), Feb 27, 2025