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WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – The National Weather Service says Rhode Island is in a dry spell, but is not officially in a drought.
Ponds, rivers and streams are low and farmers who have the equipment are irrigating. Nicole Belk at the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, says, “We’re drying out fast.”
The Providence Journal reports that the U.S. Drought Monitor lists Rhode Island as “abnormally dry,” depicting the state yellow, its color for a pre-drought condition.
The driest September was in 1914, when only 0.48 of an inch fell. So far this month, 0.56 of an inch has fallen.
The normal for September is 3.92 inches.
Belk said that during August, Rhode Island had below-normal rainfall of 2.7 inches. Normal is 3.6 inches.
She said September is where the state “felt the pinch.”
