06-06-2025
Entire county no longer in drought following rain over last several weeks
Frederick County is no longer in a drought as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, following several storms and rain events over the last several weeks.
The majority of the county — about 98% — is considered abnormally dry, while a small portion of northern Frederick County is in normal conditions.
The current stream flow for multiple streams in the county has also returned to normal or above-normal levels.
The Drought Monitor has five drought and dryness categories: abnormally dry, moderate drought, severe drought, extreme drought and exceptional drought.
In April, all of Frederick County, as well as most of the state of Maryland, was in a severe drought.
Frederick County had been in a drought since Nov. 12, according to Drought Monitor emails, with conditions worsening from moderate drought to severe drought at the end of March.
The Maryland Department of the Environment also issued a drought 'warning' — the third level of the department's drought status key — on April 3 for almost the whole state.
At that time, the stream flow for multiple streams was much below normal levels.
In May, conditions improved in the central, west and north parts of the county from severe to moderate drought. The southern and eastern parts were still in a severe drought.
Drought Monitor data released Thursday morning showed the county was entirely out of a drought. In the last 60 days, Frederick County has also gotten above-normal precipitation.
The Maryland Department of the Environment's drought status from May 31 still had placed Frederick County under a drought warning.
The Department of the Environment's drought status key has four levels: 'normal,' 'watch,' 'warning' and 'emergency.'
