Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is urging residents to step up water conservation efforts after five months of abnormally dry conditions.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released a new map for the Northeast region that showed the area of extreme drought expanding in northeastern Massachusetts, including Boston, and into southern New Hampshire.
During a visit to a farm in North Andover, the Republican governor said the public can help by limiting water use in various ways, including taking shorter showers and washing only full loads of laundry or dishes.
Officials are also warning of heightened fire danger due to the extended drought.
Two areas of New York, from the Buffalo area east to the Finger Lakes, and a portion of the state's Southern Tier, are also in extreme drought.