The orange portion of this map is in moderate drought; the yellow is considered “abnormally dry,” the category just below drought.
The orange portion of this map is in moderate drought; the yellow is considered “abnormally dry,” the category just below drought. Credit: Courtesy of the National Weather Service

Despite one bout of heavy rain in late June, New Hampshire is continuing to dry – with 45 percent of the state, including all of Merrimack County, officially in moderate drought.

The United States drought monitor says the rest of the state is abnormally dry.

The state Department of Environmental Services recommends that community water systems implement outdoor water use restrictions, including no landscape and limiting any watering to nighttime – between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Monitor staff