For the first time since August 2022, parts of Massachusetts have reached the most urgent drought level — extreme drought — due to the months-long dry weather that has strained New England’s resources and fueled an unprecedented number of wildfires, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

There is finally significant rain in the forecast for the drought in Massachusetts. Some towns might even see a little snow.

Thursday's rain may help prevent new fires in Massachusetts, but it'll take more of a soaking to get the state out of the danger zone when it comes to the already burning wildfires.

Rainy days may have soaked our parade, but the long-term soaking is beneficial across Massachusetts, which is deep in a drought that's fueled wildfires and limited water supplies.

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – We finally saw some significant and beneficial rain on Thursday, something we really haven’t seen in months. The rain started falling early Thursday morning and came down heavy at times. It did get a bit lighter in the afternoon. People in downtown Springfield were using their umbrellas and this soaking rain is much needed.

Massachusetts should get ‘much-welcomed’ rain, even snow in spots amid ‘Critical Drought’ as wildfires keep burning

Despite some rain on Thursday. drought and low water levels remain a concern for Mass. communities, with some getting creative to conserve.

A "bomb cyclone" riding a long atmospheric river toward the West Coast is expected to bring more than a foot of rain to parts of Northern California and 30-foot waves to the Oregon coast, but the weather won't be quite as catastrophic in and around Los Angeles, the latest forecast models show.