Drought conditions improve in western Massachusetts due to recent rainfall
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – With all this rain we've been getting, the drought in western Massachusetts has officially come to an end.
Cold water and high river levels pose risks for Memorial Day boating
While it may mean a lot of dreary skies and wet days in the Pioneer Valley, we can be glad to know that things are returning to normal in our area, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). That means lower risk for forest fires and better water flow throughout the region. Drought conditions continue to affect groundwater levels, however, which typically take longer to recover.
The Islands and Southeast Regions still remain at level 1, Mild Drought. Most regions received around 4-6 inches of rain so far this month, while the Cape and Islands saw 1.5-3 inches.
'It is encouraging to see conditions improving and drought lifting in several regions,' said EEA Secretary Tepper. 'While some areas still need time to recover, especially groundwater, this progress is a reminder of how important it is to keep using water wisely as we head into the planting season.'
The Drought Management Task Force will meet again on June 9th at 1:00 p.m. For further information on water conservation and what residents can do, visit the EEA's drought and water conservation pages.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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