Credit NHDES New Hampshire is likely headed into an early spring drought despite recent rain and snow, according to the latest national forecast – and state officials are already warning of the potential drinking water impacts. The state and much of the region saw a severe drought for much of last year, and state officials say key indicators, like stream levels and rainfall, never got back above average throughout the winter. “Even with these rain events that we’ve had come through, there has not been enough rain in them to get us to where we need to be,” said state water division director Tom O’Donovan in an interview with water managers this week.