Drought

Somerset County was under a burn ban and will remain so until significant rain falls. WMDT-TV 47 Delmarva (Salisbury, Md.), March 13, 2025

Schuylkill and Berks counties remained in a drought warning since Nov. 1, while 33 other counties were still in a drought watch that began on the same date. Republican Herald (Pottsville, Pa.), Feb 19, 2025 The Pennsylvania Drought Task Force announced drought watch and warning statuses for counties in the southwest and southeastern parts of the state. Berks and Schuylkill counties were in a drought warning. Under a drought watch, residents were encouraged to voluntarily curb their water use by 5% to 10%. Under a drought warning, water users were urged to reduce their water use by 10% to 15%. WPXI-TV NBC 11 Pittsburgh (Pa.), Nov 1, 2024

The planting season begins in just weeks in eastern Ohio. Given the severe drought conditions that the area endured in 2024, ag experts were concerned about the upcoming growing season. "I think that our livestock producers and rural well owners still need to use caution because those ground water supplies are severely depleted and they're taking a while for springs to recharge to what they initially were as well as some of our wells,” Jefferson County Soil and Water District District Administrator Wendee Dodds said. “So, people just need to be very cautious of their water usage." Some wells and springs went dry in November and December, according to an OSU Extension ag and natural resources educator. WTOV9 FOX (Steubenville, Ohio), March 12, 2025

Drought in the Concho Valley has kept bass size smaller than usual, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists. Concho Valley Homepage (San Angelo, Texas), March 5, 2025

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