McCarthy, 2020: 2020 Drought in New England. Heavier rainstorms will have far-reaching impacts on our natural and human communities, impacting farm and forestry operations and causing damage to homes, roads, and bridges. Precipitation tends to be more acidic when a storm originates from a south-westerly direction. The most extreme pH events, both high and low, occur with low volume events. Precipitation: Vermont is getting wetter.