More than half of the state is in a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The monitor, which updates weekly on Thursdays, indicates that a severe drought encompasses much of the state south of Greenville in Piscataquis County and the Lincoln region in Penobscot County. According to the monitor, 53 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions.

Regions north of those locations are still seeing abnormally dry conditions.

Most of the state is experiencing moderate fire danger conditions, according to the Maine Forest Service. Damp conditions overnight Thursday and throughout the day Friday have dampened conditions enough to reduce the potential for major fires to break out.

The National Weather Service anticipates that parts of the state will see

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