The period between July and September was the driest ever recorded in several communities, including in:
Amherst, N.S., where only 70.4 mm of rain fell;
Greenwood, N.S., which only saw 65.4 mm of rain;
Summerside, P.E.I., with only 97.8 mm of rain during the three-month period
Worsening drought has taken a toll on the region’s agricultural industry. Crops are stressed and farmers are facing reduced yields due to the lack of rainfall. Some of the crops hit hardest, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor, include apples, corn, blueberries, pumpkins, and potatoes.
The dearth of precipitation here is so significant that some small waterways have dried up in Nova Scotia, and mandatory water restrictions are in effect in and around Dartmouth.
RELATED: What is a state of emergency? How these orders help in a crisis
The community of Hughes Brooks, Newfoundland, recently declared a state of emergency due to its water levels running critically low.
“The State of Emergency and Water Conservation Order remain in effect to ensure levels don’t drop significantly over the Thanksgiving weekend,” the town said on Facebook on Friday.
Ridges, tropics have kept the region dry
Why haven’t we seen much rain throughout the eastern third of the country over the past few months?