Southern Maine is actually experiencing a drought.
For the third straight year, parts of the state are experiencing dry conditions, although they’re not severe enough to prompt warnings about water restrictions or dry wells.
Auburn reported 1.3 inches of rain between 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
More rain is forecast for the Portland area Friday evening, Schroeter said.
But Thursday’s downpours weren’t enough to counter the drought conditions in southern Maine, Schroeter said.
The southern half of the state, and a strip across the far northern part, are either experiencing a moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
If so, the drought warning would be lifted, as it was this week in southern New England, which experienced dry or drought conditions in early July.
Maine has experienced summer droughts for the past three years.
Susan Faloon, spokeswoman for the state Emergency Management Agency, said the agency hasn’t received any formal reports of wells running dry, but some homeowners have said water levels in their wells are low.
Hawley said that he hasn’t heard any reports about farms having problems because of dry conditions.