September brought more dry weather and continued drought conditions to much of southern New England. For many, the drought began in July 2016. At this point, this is a drought categorized largely by well below normal precipitation and groundwater and agricultural impacts. Most of the region experienced below normal rainfall during the month of September.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs expanded the drought warning into the southeastern portion of the state, and a drought watch was expanded into Cape Cod and the Islands on September 9th. Soil moisture (measured by the Climate Prediction Center) was abnormally dry or drier. Groundwater conditions (measured by the United States Geological Survey) were found to be below to well below normal for most of Massachusetts. Cape Cod and the Islands were normal at this time. River and streamflow conditions were below to well below normal with 16 gage sites in southern New England at record low levels.
Farmers have had to irrigate their crops much more than normal for September. Losses were started to be reported by producers in the Connecticut River valley area of Massachusetts. In addition, sources of irrigation have been dwindling. While data thus far has been anecdotal, many farmers are having to choose which fields to irrigate and which to let go, as well as not doing 2nd and 3rd plantings of late summer crops. Known losses, according to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, include a total loss of the peach crop, reduced apple and cranberry crops, and no second and third cut hay. The Massachusetts state government declared on September 7th to make up to $1 million in microloan funds available to small, family owned farms who suffered losses due to the drought.  Eleven counties in Massachusetts were declared primary disaster counties due to the drought.  They include: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Worcester Counties.  Farms in these counties are eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program.
More than 160 public water systems in Massachusetts have imposed some sort of water use restrictions, 70 of those have the strictest parameters in place, allowing residents to use outdoor water one day a week or less.  One of these was Worcester, the second largest city in Massachusetts.  Worcester banned outdoor water use in early September and ordered restaurants to stop serving tap water unless requested by a customer because their reservoir system had dropped to 55 percent of capacity.  It's reservoirs are typically at 80 percent of capacity going into the fall.  In addition, Worcester officials activated an emergency connection to draw water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) at a cost of $1.7 million per month.  Other communities that already rely on the MWRA for a portion of their water have increased their demand by 38 percent this year.

Drought in EASTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in NORTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in northern Worcester County through September 13th.  It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.

Drought in WESTERN MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in WESTERN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in EASTERN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in WESTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in WESTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in EASTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in eastern Hampshire County through September 13th. It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.

Drought in EASTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in SOUTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in southern Worcester County through the month of September.

Drought in WESTERN NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in SUFFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation in Suffolk County through the month of September.

Drought in EASTERN NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in NORTHERN BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in WESTERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

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

Drought in EASTERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in eastern Plymouth County through September 13th. It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.

Drought in SOUTHERN BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in southern Bristol County through September 13th. It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.

Drought in SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in southern Plymouth County through September 13th. It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.

Drought in BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in Barnstable  County through the month of September.

Drought in NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-SEP-16 00:00:00 to 30-SEP-16 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation in northwestern Middlesex County through September 13th. It was upgraded to an Extreme Drought (D3) designation at that time, which continued through the end of September.