Three New Drought Areas You May Not Have Heard About

Three relatively new areas of drought have developed quickly in parts of the Northeast, Southeast and northern High Plains this spring and summer, reaching extreme severity in some areas, due to a lack of significant rain and an unpromising forecast.

(MORE: When Will Relief from the Brutal Heat Arrive?)

Soil moisture anomalies are well below average, as of July 26, in parts of central and western New York, northern and western Pennsylvania, and southern New England. In parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania, these values are in the lowest 1 percent of all historical values for the date.

Soil moisture is well below average for this time of year in parts of the southern Appalachians. In parts of north Georgia, these values are also in the lowest 1 percent of all historical values for July 26, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

Northeast

Residents of the Northeast have probably noticed plenty of brown lawns over the past month or two, due to the lack of rain. Unfortunately, the drought is continuing to worsen — the National Drought Mitigation Center lists parts of central and western New York and portions of New England in a severe drought.

This overall dry pattern is not expected to change much in August, so there is a chance that some areas will be placed in an extreme drought before summer ends.

(MORE: Extended Forecast for Late Summer and Early Fall)

Through July 26:

• Buffalo, New York, is 6.97 inches of precipitation below average since Jan. 1.
• New York City (Central Park) is 5.42 inches of precipitation below average since Jan. 1.
• Boston is 6.31 inches of precipitation below average since Jan. 1.

Tuesday, Connecticut Water asked its customers to reduce water use as much as possible. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection asked residents to voluntarily conserve water, as well. 

Southeast

The National Drought Mitigation Center has analyzed an area of extreme drought, the second worst drought category, for parts of north Georgia, northeast Alabama and far Upstate South Carolina near the Georgia border.

Brutally hot temperatures and a lack of significant rain have lead to the development of this flash drought.

Through July 26, Atlanta is running 4.37 inches of precipitation below average since Jan. 1.

(MORE: Five Things Hurricanes Can Do That Are Actually Good)

Northern High Plains

The National Drought Mitigation Center has placed parts of northeast Wyoming into western South Dakota in the extreme drought category.

Precipitation has been highly variable across the High Plains, but over the past 30 days, the areas in the extreme drought have seen less than half of what is normally expected, in terms of rainfall.

(MORE: Severe Storms Return to the Plains, Midwest This Week)

As of July 26, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Rapid City, South Dakota, is running 5.72 inches of precipitation below average since Jan. 1.

Cattle in the extreme drought area are already on winter pastures, and farmers and ranchers have experienced no hay production at all. In addition, there are water quality and quantity issues, due to dams drying up.

(MORE: The Most Extreme Rainfall in All 50 States)

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: World Landmarks in an Epic Drought