Precipitation was below normal in all areas except the Northeast, where it was one-quarter inch above normal.  Average temperatures for March were between 2.5 and 5.1 degrees below normal.
Average monthly streamflows were below normal in all areas except the West.  Groundwater levels stagnated in recovering this month.  Quabbin Reservoir was at a below-normal level, but the other monitored reservoirs in the Connecticut River Valley were at normal.
All regions improved to a Drought Advisory except for the Berkshires, which had no headline.

Drought in EASTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 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 March 21. On March 21 the D2 designation was reduced to include only areas near and west of the Connecticut River.  Areas to the east were reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in WESTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 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 March 21.  On March 21 the D2 designation was reduced to cover only the southeast portion of Western Hampden County.  The remainder of the region was reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in EASTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 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 March 21.  On March 21 the southeast portion of Eastern Hampshire County was reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation while the remainder of the region stayed at the D2 designation.

Drought in WESTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 21-MAR-17 11:59:00 (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 March 21. On March 21, all parts of the region were reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in EASTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 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 March 21. On March 21, the northern part of the region was reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation, while the southern part remained at the D2 designation.

Drought in WESTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 21-MAR-17 11:59:00 (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 the southern part of Western Franklin County through March 21. On March 21, this region was reduced to the Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in SOUTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 21-MAR-17 11:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued a Severe Drought (D2) designation in the extreme western part of Southern Worcester County through March 21, at which time it was reduced to a Moderate Drought (D1) designation.

Drought in NORTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor maintained a Severe Drought (D2) designation in western and northern parts of Northern Worcester County through the month of March.

Drought in NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
From 01-MAR-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-17 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The U.S. Drought Monitor maintained a Severe Drought (D2) designation in Northwest Middlesex County through the month of March.