Drought Update

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 10/09/2026 10:37 AM EDT

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DEQ.Virginia.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 9, 2026

CONTACT: Irina Calos
(804) 659-1333
irina.calos@deq.virginia.gov

DROUGHT UPDATE

Drought watch lifted in three counties, other drought advisories continued.

Richmond, Va. – Due to sustained precipitation over the past several weeks, the Drought Monitoring Task Force (DMTF) has recommended lifting the drought watch in Bland, Grayson, and Wythe counties in the New River drought evaluation region.

Sustained rain has prevented drought conditions from worsening; however, drought continues in many parts of Virginia, especially in the Roanoke River drought evaluation region which has received less rainfall than other areas of the Commonwealth.

All other drought advisory statuses were maintained as follows:

A drought emergency advisory for:

Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke counties and the cities of Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem

Drought warning advisories for:

Chowan: Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex counties and the cities of Emporia and Franklin
Eastern Shore: Accomack and Northampton counties
Middle James*: Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Nelson, Powhatan, Prince Edward counties and the cities of Charlottesville, and Lynchburg
Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties
Shenandoah*: Augusta, Page, Rockingham, and Warren counties and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro
Upper James: Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, and Rockbridge counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, and Lexington

And drought watch advisories for:

New River*: Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties and the cities of Galax, and Radford
Northern Piedmont: Culpeper, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties and the City of Fredericksburg
Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park
Middle James*: Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico counties and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, and Richmond
York-James: Charles City, James City, New Kent, York counties and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg
Shenandoah*: Clarke, Frederick, and Shenandoah counties and the City of Winchester
Southeast Virginia: Isle of Wight County and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach

The DMTF considered the following information in its advisory recommendations:

Streamflow levels generally improved, however, gages in central areas of the state remain below normal, particularly in the Roanoke, and South Fork Shenandoah River basins. These below-normal streamflows are likely related to reduced groundwater and baseflow conditions.

Soil moisture improved following recent rainfall, but soils are still drier than normal along central portions of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and throughout southcentral and southeastern areas of the state.

Groundwater levels generally continued on a seasonal decline, though pockets of water level recovery were observed.

Reservoir levels remained within normal operating ranges with the exceptions of Smith Mountain Lake and John Kerr reservoir which remain much-below-average, and Beaverdam reservoir and Lake Anna which remain slightly-below average.

Precipitation was above normal in western portions of the Roanoke evaluation region and in the New River drought evaluation region, where totals were primarily between 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Far northern areas of the state and southern areas generally received below normal totals of less than half an inch. Longer-term precipitation trends show above normal precipitation totals in the Big Sandy and New River drought evaluation regions, as well as central and northern portions of the state.

Producers reported no new, immediate drought-related impacts on agriculture this week. Harvest continues throughout the state.

In response to these conditions, Governor Spanberger is encouraging Virginians to conserve water during this drought.

The seven-day forecast calls for near- to above-normal precipitation totals, with totals of an inch expected in southern and central areas of the state. Precipitations totals are highly dependent upon a low-pressure system, and are subject to change significantly depending on its track.

Additional information on the current drought status is available on the DEQ drought webpage and Drought Dashboard, which includes interactive data on stream gages, groundwater wells, soil moisture, and precipitation.

 *Note: The DMTF has listed partial statuses in these drought evaluation regions. Some localities remain in watch or warning advisory, while others have been upgraded to either watch advisory or normal status.

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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