CONCORD – A stretch of high temperatures is on the horizon during a time when the state is in need of rain, officials said.

New Hampshire is approaching a stage of drought due to receiving less precipitation than normal. The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor shows the vast majority of the state is categorized as abnormally dry. A small slice on the western side of Coos County is an exception, the Drought Monitor shows.

Precipitation over the last couple months has been far less than normal. Now, with abnormally dry conditions, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is encouraging private residential well users to begin conserving now.

Limiting outdoor water use and staggering water use also is recommended to allow the well to have time to recharge.

More municipalities and water utilities likely will impose outdoor water use restrictions as drought conditions develop. The public also is urged to keep conservation in mind and to abide by restrictions.

“New Hampshire is approaching a stage of drought because rainfall over the last two months is about 60% of normal, and New Hampshire had a significantly less-than-average snowpack this past winter,” Thomas O’Donovan, director of the NHDES Water Division stated in a press release. Consequently, stream flows throughout the state are very low and if these weather trends continue, groundwater levels and water supply wells throughout the state will soon begin to be adversely impacted.”

He further stated that both the Lamprey and Souhegan rivers have implemented low-water actions from their watershed management plans, citing how other rivers may also be impacted soon. Reservoirs across New Hampshire are being closely monitored and managed by the NHDES Dam Bureau. As it is, the majority of the northern half of New Hampshire including Belknap, Grafton, Carroll and Coos counties have received 25 to 50% less precipitation than normal. The majority of Sullivan, Merrimack, Strafford, Rockingham, Hillsborough and Cheshire counties have received 50 to 75% less precipitation than normal.

The monthly monitor for June indicates that in the southern countries and southern Belknap County drought development is likely.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.