Drought conditions are dramatically increasing across Maine after an early summer drought recovery.

Severe drought has returned after completely disappearing, and now covers a small portion of the state along the coast from Portland to the Midcoast.

There’s also been an overall increase of drought or abnormally dry conditions, which now covers 82 percent of the state.

(Maine Drought Monitor as of August 12)

More than 840,000 Mainers now live in drought areas.

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

(U.S. Drought Monitor as of Thursday, July 30)

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

The latest Drought Monitor update does not reflect heavy thunderstorms that hit the state Thursday afternoon.