Massachusetts Drought Summary

Percent of time spent in drought categories

-- Western Climate Division --
PDSI Category Percent of Time in Category Cumulative Percent Time
Extreme 2.2 2.2
Severe 4.2 6.4
Moderate 16.1 22.5
Mild 22.2 44.7
Incipient 9.6 54.3
Near Normal 11.4 65.7
Wet 34.3 100.0
Lowest PDSI in 1335 months -5.84 in 11/1964

-- Central Climate Division --
PDSI Category Percent of Time in Category Cumulative Percent Time
Extreme 3.3 3.3
Severe 7.1 10.4
Moderate 14.8 25.2
Mild 19.3 44.4
Incipient 11.9 56.3
Near Normal 12.4 68.7
Wet 31.3 100.0
Lowest PDSI in 1335 months -5.36 in 5/1911

-- Coastal Climate Division --
PDSI Category Percent of Time in Category Cumulative Percent Time
Extreme 1.9 1.9
Severe 7.9 9.8
Moderate 17.9 27.7
Mild 18.1 45.8
Incipient 12.2 58.0
Near Normal 14.2 72.1
Wet 27.9 100.0
Lowest PDSI in 1335 months -5.16 in 12/1965

Based on the monthly Palmer Drought Severity Index as computed by the National Climatic Data Center.
"Cumulative" is the percent of time in given category plus all preceeding categories.