There’s no doubt the drought affecting most of New Hampshire and the moderate-to-extreme conditions that are persisting will have aftershocks this fall and winter, state officials said.

Last week’s rain provided only temporary and surface-level relief after an unusually hot and dry summer. On Tuesday, State Drought Management Team members urged caution recalling that lower-than-average precipitation in late June receded, giving way to even more severe drought by mid-August. An example of this is the water level on Lake Winnipesaukee, which is still nearly 8 inches below its normal level. Many other lakes are even lower.

More than 32% of the state is still experiencing extreme drought — the highest percentage ever recorded since the U.S. Drought Monitor was created in 2000, officials sa

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