NEWS RELEASE: Drought Update

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 05/29/2026 02:47 PM EDT

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DEQ.Virginia.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2026

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

DROUGHT UPDATE

Existing drought advisories continued

Drought Advisory Update for May 29, 2026

Richmond, Va. -Despite significant precipitationacross the Commonwealth in recent days, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in coordination with the Drought Monitoring Task Force (DMTF) continued the existing drought advisory statuses for Virginia. All of Virginia is in a drought warning, with the exception of Isle of Wight County, and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach in southeast Virginia, which remain in a drought watch.

A drought warning advisory is intended to increase awareness that the onset of a significant drought event is imminent. A drought watch advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought.

The DMTF considers four drought indicators in establishing drought advisories: precipitation, groundwater levels, streamflow, and reservoir levels. Recent storms greatly improved streamflow and upper soil moisture, with most localities receiving between two to four inches of rain on average. However, deeper soil moisture and groundwater remain much below normal. Of the state’s 24 groundwater monitoring wells, groundwater levels in 20 are still below the 10th percentile for this time of the year.

Long-term outlooks for groundwater levels remain a concern and will take a prolonged period of rainfall to recover.

Average statewide precipitation is approximately seven and a half inches below normal
for the water year, which began on Oct. 1, 2025. There is no significant rainfall
forecasted over the next 14 days. Without significant additional rainfall, the drought
could worsen as temperatures rise and rates of evapotranspiration increase.

As the hottest months of the year are approaching, DEQ and the DMTF are monitoring the situation and will provide bi-weekly updates through the duration of this drought.

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.

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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.