HARTFORD — Governor Ned Lamont has declared a Stage 2 drought advisory for all eight counties in Connecticut due to far below normal precipitation levels and ongoing fire danger levels statewide.

A Stage 2 drought advisory is intended as an awareness stage, identifying an emerging drought event that could potentially impact water supplies, agriculture, or natural ecosystems. It is the second of five levels under the Connecticut Drought Preparedness and Response Plan, with Stage 1 being the lowest and Stage 5 the most extreme.

“The lack of rain over the past two months has caused exceptionally dry conditions across Connecticut, resulting in numerous wildfires and reduced groundwater levels and streamflows,” Lamont said November 9. “We want to raise awareness that as this lack of rain continues, there is a possibility that this emerging drought event could intensify, which is why we want to encourage everyone right now to be mindful of their water consumption and take some simple, sensible steps to stretch water supplies.”

The drought level was unchanged as of this morning.

Firefighters in all five of Newtown’s volunteer companies have responded to multiple brush fires in recent weeks.

At the request of the local fire chiefs, a CodeRED was issued to residents on October 27 reminding them that due to current weather conditions — and the calendar, which only allows for outdoor open burning between November 1 and May 31 — there is to be no outdoor burning in Newtown until further notice. That ban also remains in effect.

The recorded message from Newtown Emergency Communications Director Maureen Will was, she said, to remind residents “due to the red flag weather conditions, there is no burning of brush, or outside fires, without a permit from the fire marshal’s office, and no permits have been issued.

“Due to the extremely dry conditions, DEEP has implemented a statewide burn ban at all state parks, forests and trails,” Will added.

The CT DEEP ban went into effect October 26 and continues to prohibit the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of any flame outdoors.

Also last month, Lamont declared a state of emergency to assist the state in its response to the ongoing lack of precipitation and critical fire weather conditions. That emergency declaration remains in effect.

The decision to declare a Stage 2 drought advisory went to the governor at the recommendation of the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup (CIDW), a state body consisting of representatives from several state agencies who meet as necessary to assess drought conditions and make recommendations to the governor on the state’s response.

The group met last Thursday afternoon, November 7. They based their recommendation on an assessment of indicator data monitored by state and federal agencies, including precipitation, surface waters, groundwater, reservoirs, soil moisture, vegetation, and fire danger conditions.

CIDW Chair Martin Heft, from the Office of Policy and Management Undersecretary, said the state has experienced significantly drier than normal conditions this fall.

“In terms of precipitation, we have had the driest two-month period ever recorded since records began in 1905 and have seen the impacts with increased fire danger conditions,” Heft added. “We must begin early steps now to mitigate the potential for harm should the drought be prolonged.”

During the Stage 2 drought advisory, some action items that residents and businesses in Connecticut are encouraged to voluntarily take to aid in minimizing future drought impact include:

*Shutting down automatic outdoor irrigation;

*Minimizing overall water use by fixing leaky plumbing and fixtures; and

*Following any conservation requests issued by local water suppliers and municipalities.

Rainfall and drought impacts can be more severe at certain locations. Those who depend on private wells, fire or irrigation ponds, and other highly localized water resources should be especially mindful of local conditions, especially in places where previous droughts have affected supplies.

The five levels of drought advisories under the state’s drought plan are Stage 1, Below Normal Conditions; Stage 2, Incipient Drought; Stage 3, Moderate Drought; Stage 4, Severe Drought; and Stage 5, Extreme Drought.

The most recent time any drought advisories were issued in Connecticut was during the summer and fall of 2022 when six counties reached Stage 2 and two counties were elevated to Stage 3.

More information on the workgroup and the state’s drought plan can be found online at portal.ct.gov/Water/Drought/Drought-Home.