Drought conditions continue to increase in Maine, with 93 percent of the state now considered at least abnormally dry, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor release.

Drought Monitor for Maine as of August 20

Portions of the Midcoast and coastal Cumberland County are under severe drought for the second week in a row, while moderate drought has expanded to cover more than half the state.

Relief may not come soon, as forecasts through the remainder of August call for occasional showers and below-normal runoff.

About 866,000 Maine residents are currently in areas of drought, which is a 5.3 percent increase over last week.

The state had made an early summer drought recovery before July, which turned out to be the 2nd-driest July on record.

Maine Drought Monitor as of August 12

U.S. Drought Monitor as of Thursday, August 6

Conditions are still better than last summer, when a large portion of the state was under extreme drought.