The National Weather Service today upgraded the drought status in the northeastern corner of Rhode Island from moderate to severe drought. Most of the rest of the state continues to be in a moderate drought, and although Newport County and Bristol County, Mass., have not yet reached drought status, the National Weather Service still considers those areas to be abnormally dry.
It’s the region’s third driest fall on record, which dates back to 1904, and the driest fall in 78 years. The lack of water is causing a record number of wildfires, and threatening water levels for animals like beavers and stream fishes. State officials warn that if the drought worsens, they may need to tell residents to start conserving water.
“It is extremely dry,” said Patrick MacMeekin, a wildfire supervisor for the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. “That’s the take home message here.”
According to the National Weather Service, the region, as measured at T.F. Green Airport, has received seven fewer inches of rain this fall than what is normal by now. Although the agency warns of drought conditions, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has not formally made a drought declaration.
When deciding whether to declare a drought, the state’s Drought Steering Committee considers precipitation, in addition to other indicators, such as reservoir level, stream level, and groundwater level. The committee also considers social factors, such as whether the state is in a growing season for farmers, or whether there is a large strain on water resources from tourists.
The biggest threat the state is currently facing from the lack of precipitation is related wildfires. MacMeekin said there have been 25 fires in the last three weeks, a 10-year record. Because the ground is so dry, MacMeekin said, fires have burrowed several feet underground and revived after officials thought they were put out.
“What we are seeing are fires popping back up the next day or two days later, even after the fire department does a great job fully wetting the area and digging out the heat,” said MacMeekin.
MacMeekin said fall fires are especially dangerous because dry leaves and dead organic matter accelerate active fires.
“If there’s a spark in the woods, fire spreads rapidly. They can be difficult to suppress and control, unless the fire departments jump on them while they’re very small,” he said.
MacMeekin said all of southern New England is under a red flag warning, meaning residents should not start outdoor fires. All 25 fall wildfires in the state so far have been accidental, but man-made, according to MacMeekin. He encouraged people to exercise extreme caution when grilling outside and discouraged charcoal grilling.
According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, drought conditions can harm local wildlife like beavers, who may have to travel farther to find adequate water levels. Shrinking streams can also trap fish in smaller pools, making them vulnerable to predators.
Kathleen Crawley, the acting general manager of the Rhode Island Water Resources Board, said that since 2016, the region has tended to get stuck in longer periods of drought than previously. Getting stuck in weather patterns is a hallmark of climate change, said Andy Nash, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“One of the fingerprints of climate change is that weather systems can get more stagnant. If you get stuck under a high pressure, which is what we’ve had, and that means it’s just dry day after day,” he said.
