'Significant Drought' Hits The State: Patch PM

WORCESTER, MA — Welcome to a dry Aug. 14 and happy Friday. Emphasis on the dry this week as the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) declared the entire state in a level 2 significant drought.

That comes after multiple scorching heat waves and very little rain so far this summer — Tropical Storm Isaias only brought brief periods of rain to eastern Massachusetts on Aug. 4.

The U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday also upgraded much of the state from "abnormally dry" to a D1 "moderate drought." In a D1 drought, the state is at risk of more wildfires, a decline in honey production, and higher stress in trees and fish.

Here are the other stories Patch has been keeping an eye on:

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