Weather
'Critical' Drought In MA As Record Heat Pushes Out Bitter Cold: See Latest Forecast
Despite the snowy winter, groundwater supplies are very low for much of the state.
Months of bitter cold temperatures and persistent snowfall will give way to record temperatures on Tuesday as Boston threatens the daily record of 70 degrees.
After temperatures soared into the 60s on Monday, the National Weather Service is forecasting a high of 74 degrees on Tuesday before cooler weather moves back in later this week.
The record high for Boston on March 10 is 70 degrees from 1977. The record high in Worcester is 67 degrees in 2020.
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The rapid warmup comes as state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared worsened drought conditions across the state because of limited groundwater.
The Central and Northeast Regions are now in a Level 3-Critical Drought.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Connecticut River Valley has moved to a Level 2-Significant Drought.
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Tepper said that, although Massachusetts received up to three feet of snow in February, that snowfall has not yet helped improve drought conditions.
Even when it melts, the three feet of snow equals only about two and a half inches of water, which is not enough to fully recharge rivers, lakes, ponds, and groundwater after months of below-average precipitation and substantial water deficits.
"This drought has been building since 2024, and we're still seeing the effects in low streamflow and lower water levels across the state," Tepper said. "Even though we had a snowy February, it won't be enough to replenish the groundwater after such a long period of drought.
"That's why it's important for everyone to be mindful of how we use water. Small actions can help protect our water supply while conditions recover."
Wednesday will be a mild day with a high of 58 degrees with a chance of rain in the afternoon. Thursday will see a high of near 60 degrees and a shower is possible as well.
Temperatures drop back to seasonal levels on Friday and Saturday, with a high of 47 on Friday and 44 on Saturday.
The NWS is calling for the chance of snow to come back to the region on Sunday despite a high of 51 degrees.
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