Have you ever been so excited for some rain?

As Massachusetts enters the “Critical Drought” status with dozens of wildfires burning across the region, meteorologists are predicting that some “much-welcomed” rain should arrive soon. Even wet snow will be possible in higher elevation spots on Thursday night.

The Bay State desperately needs this precipitation following an unprecedented lack of rain in recent months, triggering this brutal drought and sparking brush fires.

Over the past 30 days, most of the state has received less than an inch of rain, which is 3 to 4.5 inches below normal. Many areas recorded their lowest rainfall ever for this time of the year.

“Slow-moving frontal system brings overcast and much-welcomed rains Thurs into Fri, which could mix with wet snow at locations above 1,500 ft elevation Thurs night and Fri.,” the National Weather Service’s Boston office wrote in its forecast discussion.

The latest wildfires in the region were reported in Blue Hills Reservation on Tuesday, as firefighters battled the 40-acre blaze.

“The DCR Fire Control team, in coordination with the Milton Fire Department, is actively working to contain the fire and ensure public safety,” the state Department of Conservation and Recreation posted. “DCR urges the public to avoid the area to allow emergency responders to work safely and to take precautions against smoke.”

As of Tuesday, there were about 37 active wildfires across the state. This year’s fire season has lasted longer because of the dry conditions. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across the state since the start of October, burning more land than Massachusetts usually sees in an entire year.

A “Critical Drought” was declared across most of the state on Tuesday, except for the Cape and Islands regions.

“Massachusetts is experiencing critical drought conditions that are fueling unprecedented and destructive wildfires across the state,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “Climate change is reshaping our region’s weather patterns, resulting in warmer and drier fall and winter seasons.

“Water conservation is more important than ever,” Tepper added. “We urge municipalities, residents, and businesses — including those with private wells — to help us reduce stress on our water systems. We need to work together to ensure we have enough clean drinking water, protect wildlife habitats, and maintain effective fire control. Every small effort counts.”

Originally Published: November 19, 2024 at 4:19 PM EST

Elected officials in Massachusetts are reacting to President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants by declaring a national emergency and using military assets.

Trump campaigned on a promise of the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, and he says he intends to deliver on it.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who declared a state of emergency around migrant arrivals last year, says something needs to be done, but she expressed concern about communities being uprooted.

“I think it’s absolutely appropriate that there be enforcement and deportation of individuals who commit crime, including violent crime. That’s very, very important,” Healey said. “We recognize it would be devastating if there were mass raids, here and across the country, that took out people who’ve been working in this country for a long time, who have families and kids here.”

While Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state, it has eight sanctuary cities.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called attention to the Trust Act, passed in 2014. It distinguishes the difference in roles between Boston police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

“We know that the fear of someone who might be living, coming from an immigrant family, not then reporting crimes or not speaking out about different issues, actually then makes the entire community less safe,” Wu said.

Cambridge is also a sanctuary city — it has been since 1985.

“Cambridge affirms the basic human rights and dignity of every human being and provides education, health and other critical services to all residents of Cambridge, regardless of their immigration status,” a city spokesperson told NBC10 Boston in a statement.

Leaders in Worcester, the state’s second-largest city, say it will always remain inclusive and will never target individuals based on their immigration status.

At the former ICE detention center in Dartmouth, there are no plans for the sheriff to reimplement any future detention programs.

“This organization has been there and done that,” said Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux.

ICE closed the detention center in 2021 after President Joe Biden took office.

Heroux’s predecessor, former Sheriff Tom Hodgson — a strong ally of Trump who served as the president-elect’s campaign chairman in Massachusetts — blasted the Biden administration and called the center’s closing “a political hit job” orchestrated by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.