Despite late-October rain, extreme drought has expanded across southern and coastal Maine, now covering nearly 43% of the state, including Portland. The National Weather Service says another foot of precipitation is needed before soils freeze to substantially ease conditions.

Prolonged drought has driven Mackenzie River levels near Fort Simpson, N.W.T., to historic lows, turning a community boat launch into a sandbar and making fall hunting by river hazardous. A territorial hydrologist cites climate change, El Niño, and upstream dams as contributors, while local leaders urge stronger action and monitoring.

A homesteader near Mobile on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula is hauling water from a pond as extreme drought leaves his well near empty. He’s seeing impacts on livestock and bees, and calls for government support to build community resilience.