Drought conditions continue to worsen in Maine with almost half the state now under severe drought.
Much of the northern part of the state entered severe drought this week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
(Maine Drought Monitor as of October 8, 2026)
A portion of southern coastal Maine between Portland and Bar Harbor is still under the more intense extreme drought.
(Maine Drought Map as of October 1, 2026)
The fall outlook from the National Weather Service calls for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
The entire state of Maine continues to be under at least moderate drought. More than 1.3 million Mainers now live in drought areas.
Maine experienced its most damaging drought between 1999 and 2002, during which an estimated 17,000 private wells ran dry, and farmers lost more than $32 million in crop yield.
More recently, Maine experienced significant droughts in both 2016 and 2020-2022, with widespread impacts to water supply, agriculture, and recreation.
