Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has expanded the warning advisory to now include 94 counties and 33 cities, and has continued drought watch advisories in one county and five cities in Virginia. At this time, all localities within the Commonwealth are under drought watch or warning advisories.
As a result of these dry conditions, agricultural impacts are widespread and there is increased danger of wildfires. Additionally, the expansion of the drought declarations is consistent with the designations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where farmers may be eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans.
Note: DEQ has changed our drought advisory colors to include orange and crimson to represent a drought warning and drought emergency respectively to better align with other drought monitoring agencies.
A drought warning advisory is intended to increase awareness that the onset of a significant drought event is imminent and includes the following areas:
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Big Sandy: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties and the cities of Bristol and Norton
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Chowan: Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex counties and the cities of Emporia and Franklin
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Eastern Shore: Accomack and Northampton counties
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Middle James: Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Nelson, Powhatan, Prince Edward counties and the cities of Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Lynchburg, Petersburg, and Richmond
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New River: Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties and the cities of Galax, and Radford
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Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties
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Northern Piedmont: Culpeper, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties and the City of Fredericksburg
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Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park
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Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke counties and the cities of Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem
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Upper James: Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, and Rockbridge counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington
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Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester
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York-James: Charles City, James City, New Kent, York counties and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg
A drought watch advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought and includes the following areas:
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Southeast Virginia: Isle of Wight County and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
Despite recent half-inch precipitation across the Commonwealth, moderate and severe dryness persists statewide, with soil moisture levels statewide much below normal. Streamflow levels have shown local increases in response to recent rainfall, but approximately a quarter of stream gages in the state are recording provisional record daily low stream flows; average values for the past 30 days show all major watersheds experiencing much below normal streamflow. Groundwater levels continue to decline and are expected to continue declining as summer begins and increased evapotranspiration, and higher water withdrawals impact well levels. Reservoir levels across the Commonwealth are all within normal ranges, except for Smith Mountain Lake, where water levels are at warning status. Agricultural producers are reporting dry conditions throughout the state and delayed spring crop planting. Pasture conditions are reportedly poor in multiple areas throughout the state, and hay yields are expected to be negatively impacted. The seven-day forecast calls for below normal precipitation for most of the Commonwealth. Rainfall totals up to a quarter-inch are expected with some northern and southwestern areas of the state forecasted to receive up to a half-inch of rain. The 14-day outlook calls for above normal temperatures throughout 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 residents 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 conserve water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.
See the current drought status on the DEQ website.
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