In Late October, Massachusetts' Drought Finally Lessens — Just A Drop

After months of dryness culminated in the worst drought Massachusetts has ever seen this summer, October rain — not "November Rain" — has been slowing improving the state's drought conditions.

A new report out by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the area of severe drought throughout the state is down 2 percent this week, from 87 percent to 85 percent.

In other good news, a small portion of the state is also now drought-free for the first time since mid-August.

However, 37 percent of the state is still in extreme drought.

WBUR's meteorologist David Epstein anticipated that despite a wet October, the state would remain in a drought. There is more rain on the way, though. Epstein's forecast out Thursday predicts that heavy rainstorms beginning in the afternoon — and dumping the most water overnight — could bring up to an inch of rain to the Greater Boston area.