Drought Continues to Expand in Virginia

 

Drought Advisory Update from Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 05/02/2025.

After days of teasing, last night it finally rained and hopefully start up again today. However, we are still in moderate drought. On Friday, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, expanded the drought watch advisory to include 44 counties in Virginia.

The drought watch advisory includes the following areas:

• Eastern Shore: Accomack and Northampton counties
• Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties
• Northern Piedmont: Culpeper, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties
• Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties
• Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Patrick, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke counties.
• Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties

Soil moisture and groundwater deficits continue to worsen in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley despite localized rainfall like last night. 

Precipitation continues below normal

Groundwater levels and stream flows likewise have seen a decline in portions of the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Roanoke River Basin. The dry conditions have impacted agricultural activities in the Northern Shenandoah Valley (rye crops) and within the Roanoke River Basin (spring planting of no-till corn and soybeans). The forecast for the next two weeks suggests below normal rainfall and greater than average temperatures over much of the Commonwealth. Storage at major water supply reservoirs remains within normal ranges.

groundwater has fallen below the historical range

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. All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks. According to the Washing Metropolitan Area Council of Governments  the Potomac River Basin and our regional supply of drinking water has been under a drought watch since 2024.

According to the latest condition report from the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB):

Rain: Since November, the Potomac River basin has received only 12 inches of rain, which is 6 inches below average. Some relief is in the forecast, with 2-4 inches of rain expected over the next week.

Drought: The basin is DRY with 57% of the area in Moderate Drought and 30% in Severe Drought.

Flow: The river’s flow at the USGS gage at Point of Rocks is around 4,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). The lowest recorded flow at this time of year is 3,000 cfs in 1896. While its of concern, it can get much worse. 

After two very dry summers and an exceptionally cold winter, I lost two trees that had been struggling had to come down and I lost my roses and plantings on the side of the garage. Until this drought passes I will not replant the bed. I am still watering the 6 caliper maple and the smaller redbud I planted 3 years ago to ensure their survival. I will not add foundation plantings that will need to be watered.