Extreme 'Flash' Drought , Conditions Spread Across, US Northeast.<br />CNN reports that flash drought conditions <br />have continued to expand and intensify<br />in New England over the past week. .<br />According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, <br />extreme drought now covers areas of eastern Massachusetts, <br />Connecticut and the entire state of Rhode Island.<br />For the first time in seven years, <br />all of Massachusetts is in some level of drought, <br />with 40% of the state experiencing extreme drought.<br />Two weeks ago, none of the state <br />was in extreme drought, illustrating <br />just how fast "flash" droughts occur.<br />Areas of New England, New York and New Jersey <br />have all fallen 2 to 6 inches below their <br />normal rainfall in the past 60 days.<br />CNN reports that the drought has impacted farming communities in the Northeast as the region was unprepared to contend with drought conditions.<br />We know already that New England has seen the greatest increase in heavy downpours, so we expect that climate change is driving an intensification of water cycles — both more intense floods and intense droughts, Aaron Bernstein, Interim director at Harvard <br />T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Climate, <br />Health and the Global Environment, via CNN.<br />CNN reports that limited rainfall, dwindling <br />rivers and depleted reservoirs have greatly <br />affected farmers' ability to grow crops.<br />There is an ample amount of scientific <br />research showing that droughts can <br />affect the mental health of everybody, <br />but particularly people who are farmers. , Aaron Bernstein, Interim director at Harvard <br />T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Climate, <br />Health and the Global Environment, via CNN.<br />That's not surprising when their lives <br />and livelihoods are literally <br />drying up before their eyes, Aaron Bernstein, Interim director at Harvard <br />T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Center for Climate, <br />Health and the Global Environment, via CNN
