Latest Drought Monitor: Recent Rains Continue To Benefit Vermont

Only about 25 percent of Vermont (yellow areas) are regarded
as "abnormally dry" as those areas haven't entire made up
for summertime rainfall deficits yet. Autumn rains
have greatly improved the drought situation in Vermont, though.

 That soggy rainstorm we had about a week ago put another big dent in any lingering dryness from a summer drought in Vermont.  

A miniscule 0.01 percent of Vermont is still in drought, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released today.   It's affecting an estimated and incredibly underwhelming 67 people in the extreme southeast tip of Vermont. 

About 25 percent of Vermont is still considered abnormally dry, as recent rainfall in parts of eastern and southeastern Vermont hasn't completely made up for previous rainfall deficits. 

Still,Vermont is in the best shape moisture-wise since the week of June 14, when no parts of Vermont were abnormally dry. 

The heavy autumn rains we've seen in Vermont are just what the doctor ordered. Ground water has been replenished, which greatly reduces the chances that people's wells will go dry in the winter. It's especially hard to deal with a dry well in the winter, so that's good news.

Also, the rains have left plenty of water for Vermont ski areas to make snow this winter. That's important, of course. Heavy snowstorms have become less reliable, and winter thaws are more likely with climate change, so ski resorts need all the backup they can get. 

The weather pattern has turned dry again in recent days, with little rainfall since last Friday and not all that much in the forecast for the next week. (Some rain seems likely Sunday into Monday, so it won't be rain-free).

Long range forecasts into the opening days of November suggest near average amounts of precipitation in Vermont. 

A dry spell here or there this time of year isn't too serious, as long as we get some more storms. Trees have gone dormant for the winter, so they won't be sucking up any ground moisture to speak of. 

While Vermont''s drought situation has greatly improved, the same can't be said for the rest of the United States as a whole. 

Just over 82 percent of the Lower 48 is at least abnormally dry.  And 59 percent of the continental U.S. is in drought, up four percentage points from last week.Aside from a couple weeks in March that were slightly worse than that, the last time this much of the nation was in drought was back in 2013.

 The most severe current drought areas are in central California and the central and southern Plains.