Drought Conditions Worsen on Cape Cod

COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MONITOR: The drought conditions map of Massachusetts this week. Cape Cod was elevated from moderate to severe.

BARNSTABLE – Drought conditions have worsened in the region over the last week.

Cape Cod has been elevated from moderate drought conditions to severe due to the continued lack of precipitation, according to the National Drought Monitor.

Possible impacts include the likely loss of crops, water shortages and the enforcement of water restrictions.

The NDM said streamflows in the area were reading less than 2 percent of normal over the last 28 day period resulting in the expansion of extreme drought in southeastern Massachusetts.

The hardest hit areas in the state have been along the coast.

Areas of northern Plymouth County have been elevated from severe to extreme drought, which is the second worst of the five-level drought classification.