Rainfall was above normal in October for Eastern Massachusetts and the Central Hills, but remained below normal in Western Massachusetts.  Values since July 2016 for all areas remained below normal.
On October 7th, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs expanded the Drought Warning to include the Connecticut River region. A Drought Warning remained in effect for the northeast, central, and southeast parts of the state. A Drought Watch continued for Cape Cod and parts of the Islands.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicated mandatory non-essential outdoor water use restrictions were in place for numerous communities within central and eastern MA. Other communities in the Commonwealth had voluntary water restrictions in place.
Many gages in central and eastern portions of southern New England had at least somewhat improved streamflows. However, across the Connecticut River Valley in MA and CT, rivers and streams remained quite low.
At the end of October, many USGS groundwater wells across southern New England were at below to well below normal levels.

Drought in WESTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in most of western Franklin County through the month of October. A small portion of western Franklin County immediately adjacent to the New Hampshire state line was under a Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in WESTERN NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed western Norfolk County in an Extreme Drought (D3) category through the month of October. The extreme southern portion of the area, from Plainville to South Weymouth, improved to Severe Drought (D2) designation from October 11 through the end of the month.

Drought in SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed southeast Middlesex County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation through the month of October.

Drought in EASTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor had a Severe (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3) designation for eastern Franklin County through the month of October. The D3 area extended from Leverett to Orange.

Drought in NORTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in northern  Worcester County through the month of October.

Drought in WESTERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed western Plymouth County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at the beginning of October. From October 11 through the end of the month, western Plymouth County was under a Severe Drought designation.

Drought in WESTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed much of western Hampshire County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation through the month of October. The exception was the Worthington to Plainfield area, which was under a Severe Drought (D2) designation through October.

Drought in EASTERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed eastern Plymouth County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at the beginning of October. Then from October 11 through the end of the month, eastern Plymouth County was under a Severe Drought (D2) designation.

Drought in SOUTHERN BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed the majority of southern Bristol County in a Severe Drought (D2) designation through the month of October. However, the eastern portion of the area from Assonet to New Bedford was under a D3 designation from October 1 to 11.

Drought in SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed southern Plymouth County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at the beginning of October. Then from October 11 through the end of the month, southern Plymouth County was in a Severe Drought (D2) designation.

Drought in BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed most of Barnstable County in a Severe Drought (D2) designation at the beginning of October.  A small portion of the upper Cape, near the Cape Cod Canal, was placed in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation. Then from  October 11 through the end of October, a small portion of the upper Cape near the Cape Cod Canal was placed in a Severe Drought (D2) designation, while the remainder of Cape Cod was placed in a Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in DUKES, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued a Severe Drought (D2) designation for Dukes County through October 11. The designation was then reduced to Abnormally Dry (D0) through the end of the month.

Drought in EASTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in eastern Hampshire County through the month of October. The exception was the southeastern portion of the area extending from South Hadley to Ware, which was under a Severe Drought (D2) designation lasted through the month.

Drought in WESTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in western Hampden County through the month of October.

Drought in NORTHERN BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed northern Bristol County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at the beginning of October. Then from October 11 through the end of the month, the area was placed in a Severe Drought (D2) designation.

Drought in NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 00:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed northwest Middlesex County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation through the month of October.

Drought in SOUTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation for most of  southern Worcester County through the month of October.  However a small portion of the northern portion of this zone... in the Northborough/Southborough area, was place in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation.

Drought in SUFFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed Suffolk County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation through the month of October.

Drought in EASTERN NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor placed eastern Norfolk County in an Extreme Drought (D3) designation through the month of October.

Drought in WESTERN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in western Essex County through the month of October.

Drought in WESTERN MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in western  Middlesex County through the month of October.

Drought in EASTERN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in eastern Essex County through the month of October.

Drought in EASTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-OCT-16 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in eastern Hampden County through the month of October.