Anita Stewart, of Portland, spreads mulch in her plot at North Street Community Garden on Saturday. Stewart, who has been gardening at the site for 10 years, acknowledged the region has been in a dry spell, but said it could be worse. “The grass is still green, so it doesn’t feel as bad as other years,” she said. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
The state of Maine has seen a dry fall so far with parts of the state expected to remain in moderate drought conditions into November.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded 3.61 inches of precipitation in the Portland area from September through October this year, 5.41 inches below normal.
About 74% of Maine was abnormally dry or in moderate drought at the end of October – per the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System – and much of New England is experiencing similar conditions.
Dry weather has meant more wildfires late into the typical fire season throughout the region.
Eastern Maine is in moderate drought, including Washington and Hancock Counties and the eastern parts of Aroostook, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Waldo, Knox and Lincoln Counties, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Most of the rest of the state was classified as abnormally dry for this time of year. Parts of the southern tip of York County are also experiencing moderate or severe droughts.
It was the 12th driest September through October period on record in Portland, said Derek Schroeter, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Gray. Portland only saw 10 days of precipitation during this time, the second-least rain days for the two-month period on record.
Dry conditions are expected to continue into November, with NOAA projecting below-normal precipitation for the entire state through Nov. 11. Eastern Maine is expected to keep experiencing drought throughout the month.
“This indicates there will be little relief in the ongoing dry conditions,” Schroeter said.
All of southern New England was under an NWS red flag warning on Friday, a type of warning for elevated fire weather concerns.
In Massachusetts, heightened drought conditions have resulted in a 1,200% spike in forest fires in October, the state’s Department of Fire Services said Friday.
The lack of rainfall, combined with gusty winds and an abundance of dry, falling leaves could create the conditions necessary for wildfires in Maine, as well. Much of southern and coastal Maine had a high chance of fire weather over the weekend, and the rest of the state had a moderate chance, according to the Maine Forest Service Wildfire Danger Report.
“This is kind of an unusual fall, to have this kind of fire activity in late October, early November,” said Kent Nelson, forest ranger specialist with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Nelson estimated that rangers have responded to about 60 or 70 wildfires in the past few weeks, more than usual at this time of year.
Maine averages 650 wildfires that burn about 550 acres annually, according to the Forest Service. There have only been about 400 wildfires so far this year, but that number could tick up as drought conditions continue, Nelson said.
“Ninety-five percent of our fires are human-caused, so that means, in some way, they can be prevented,” Nelson said.
For example, by being careful while doing yard work. Lawnmowers and tractors can spark fires if they hit rocks or other debris, Nelson said, and dry grass and leaves are like kindling for wildfires.
“Use the right machine for the right job,” Nelson said. “A lawn mower is not meant to be used to mow brush in the woods, that’s what a brush cutter is for.”
If you’re camping, Nelson recommended double- and triple-checking that campfires are out before leaving an area to make sure the fire doesn’t spread.
“It takes three or four times of putting water on it, stirring the coals and waiting a few minutes,” Nelson said.
The Forest Service recommends clearing dead vegetation 30 feet from homes and camps – but always make sure to get a permit before you burn, Nelson said. Permits are available for free online but are only valid when the daily fire danger rating is low or moderate.
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