NEWS RELEASE: Drought Advisory Update

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 02/24/2025 11:06 AM EST

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DEQ.Virginia.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2025

CONTACT: Irina Calos
804-698-1333
Irina.Calos@deq.virginia.gov

DROUGHT ADVISORY UPDATE

Drought watch advisory lifted for 28 localities in Virginia

Richmond, Va. – Due to recent precipitation from a series of winter storms, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has lifted drought advisories for 28 localities in Virginia. A drought watch advisory still exists for the Eastern Shore, Northern Virginia, and for portions of the Northern Coastal Plain and Shenandoah regions.

Drought watch advisories have been lifted for the following regions:

Portions of the Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, and Middlesex counties
Portions of the Shenandoah: Augusta, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties and the Cities of Waynesboro, Staunton, and Harrisonburg
Southeast Virginia: Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight County
York-James: Charles City, James City, New Kent, and York counties and the Cities of Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg

A drought watch advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought and remains in effect for the Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton), Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William), and for portions of the Northern Coastal Plain (King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland) and Shenandoah (Clarke and Frederick) regions.

Several factors have contributed to the lifting of advisories as well as the maintenance of advisories in the affected regions. Widespread and heavy winter precipitation over the past 14 days has led to marked improvements in soil moisture and increases in streamflow across Virginia. Stream flows throughout the Commonwealth have rebounded with all stream gages within the monitoring network currently indicating normal or above normal status. Groundwater monitoring wells in the Climate Response Network are at normal levels or are starting to show recharge signals, indicating recovery throughout most of the Commonwealth. Storage volumes at major water supply reservoirs are well within normal ranges. Despite these improvements, pockets of low soil moisture and lingering groundwater deficits continue to be observed in the northern and northeastern portions of the state.

DEQ is working with local governments, public water works, and water users in the affected areas to ensure that conservation and drought response plans and ordinances are followed. Localities and Virginians that are supplied water from the Potomac River should consult the Metropolitan Washington Water Supply and Drought Awareness Response Plan for specific triggers and actions to be taken. All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.

See the current drought status on the DEQ website .

About DEQ

The Department of Environmental Quality protects and enhances Virginia's environment and promotes the health and well being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We are committed to cleaner water, improved air quality, and the productive re-use of contaminated land.

For more information, please visit www.DEQ.Virginia.gov.

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DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights. Title VI Coordinator Melanie Davenport is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws). If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; P.O. Box 1105; Richmond, VA 23218; (804) 698-4000 (phone); (800) 592-5482 (toll-free); Melanie.Davenport@deq.virginia.gov.