Severe fall drought conditions in Massachusetts have worsened, expanding across communities that have been stricken by stubborn wildfires in recent days, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

An updated map released on Thursday morning showed at least 56 percent of the state in a moderate drought, and 13.6 percent of the state suffering from a severe drought, a drastic jump from last week.

Parts of Norfolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties are in severe drought, while nearly all of central and western Massachusetts is seeing moderate drought conditions.

Northern Bristol and Northern Plymouth counties are experiencing an abnormally dry season, while southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands aren’t impacted, the map showed.

This weekly update comes as firefighters continue to monitor dozens of wildfires across the state that have burned up hundreds of acres of land in recent days.

A big problem spot for brush fires has been the North Shore, which is now experiencing severe drought. Crews in Salem remain on high alert for brush fires as holiday revelers flock to the city to celebrate Halloween.

Smoke is still lingering in Salem from two brush fires that were knocked down on Wednesday, causing air quality concerns and the smell of smoke in the air.

Warmer temperatures on Thursday, and the possibility of gusty wind, could cause flare-ups to these brush fires, officials warned.

“The air drying, the wind picking up, and not to mention the drought worsening this week, it’s a day to be vigilant in terms of that wildfire threat,” Boston 25 Meteorologist Tucker Antico said.

Earlier this week, the state Department of Fire Services said nearly 50 brush fires were burning statewide.

Total rainfall in the Boston area is down more than 5 inches below where we should be since the start of the season, while the Worcester area is down 7 inches, Antico said.

The latest forecast from the Boston 25 Weather team shows very little to no rainfall in the extended forecast, with more warmth ahead.

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After Thursday, hundreds of Stop & Shop customers will have to find a brand new place to get their groceries. The supermarket chain is closing several stores in Massachusetts.

This will impact a number of communities. Seven stores in all are closing Thursday in Massachusetts, including the following locations:

• 932 North Montello St., Brockton
• 36 New State Highway, Raynham
• 341 Plymouth St., Halifax
• 539-571 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
• 415 Cooley St., Springfield
• 545 Lincoln St. Worcester
• 24 Mattakeesett St., Pembroke

That’s on top of the store on Needham Street in Newton that already closed in August.

Over the summer, the Quincy-based chain announced it would close underperforming stores. It’s part of a broader shift by Stop & Shop’s parent company to focus on improving performance and lowering costs.

Workers at the impacted stores will be offered jobs at other locations.

In a statement, the president of Stop & Shop said, “We remain committed to nourishing our associates, customers and communities.”

In all, 32 stores are shutting down across the Northeaster, including stores in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Heavy machinery is used to cut trees to widen an existing Central Maine Power power line corridor to make way for new utility poles in 2021, near Bingham. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press, file

Three Massachusetts utilities and Central Maine Power’s parent company have agreed that Massachusetts ratepayers must shoulder $512 million in additional costs caused by delays in construction of a power transmission project in Maine that will allow Canadian hydropower to reach the New England power grid.

Proponents said Wednesday that the project aimed at supplying enough clean energy to power about 1 million homes still represents a good deal for ratepayers and the environment despite delays and new costs.

Press Herald graphic by Michael Fisher

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“Even with these unanticipated costs, this is clean energy at a pretty good price. I’m not sure we’ll be at prices this low in the future. So we should grit our teeth, absorb the extra expense and get on with it,” said Massachusetts state Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington, co-chair of the Legislature’s Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee.

The project’s cost grew from $1 billion to at least $1.5 billion because of inflation and delays caused by opponents, requiring the Massachusetts Legislature to give its approval late last year for most of the added costs to be passed on to ratepayers.

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and attorney general’s office signed onto the agreement, which the parties submitted to the state Department of Utilities for approval on Monday. Central Maine Power’s parent, Avangrid, did not seek to recover $100 million spent in a legal and referendum battle, according to an official.

Supporters of the project say the 1,200 megawatts of electricity it provides would lower electric rates across the region, reduce carbon pollution and help Massachusetts to meet its clean energy goals. Developers previously said they expect the project to be completed by late next year but there are provisions for pushing the completion date further back.

“This transmission line should drive down overall electricity prices and deliver new, reliable power to Massachusetts and New England as we transition to clean energy. We look forward to clean hydropower to begin flowing to our state soon,” said Elizabeth Mahoney, energy resources commissioner, and Liz Anderson, from the attorney general’s office.

Despite the change, Massachusetts ratepayers would save about $3.4 billion over the 20-year contract, and the use of hydropower represents the carbon reduction equivalent of taking 660,000 cars off the road, said Kim Harriman, Avangrid’s senior vice president for public and regulatory affairs.

Avangrid and Canada’s Hydro Quebec teamed up on the project that called for a 145-mile (233-kilometer) power transmission line, mostly following existing corridors. But a new 53-mile (85-kilometer) section had to be carved through the woods to reach the Canadian border, something environmental and conservation groups decried.

The project had to overcome multiple hurdles.

It won all regulatory approvals, but work was halted after Maine voters rebuked the project in a November 2021 referendum. A jury concluded the referendum was unconstitutional because it violated the developers’ vested rights.

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