Drought Expands

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has expanded the drought watch advisory to now include 50 counties and 23 cities. Virginia has endured three dry years and this water year (October 1 2025 -September 30 2026) has started off very dry.

from DEQ

The drought advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought and now includes the following areas:

• 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
• Northern Virginia:  Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties; and the cities of Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park 
• Northern Piedmont: Culpeper, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties; and the city of Fredericksburg
• Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Patrick, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania, and Roanoke counties; and the cities of Bedford, Martinsville, Salem, and Roanoke
• Upper James: Alleghany, Bath, Craig, Botetourt, Highland, and Rockbridge counties; and the city of Covington
• Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties; and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester

Recent lack of precipitation has resulted in continued below normal or declines in streamflow and groundwater levels throughout northern, central, and south-central regions of the state. The forecast for the next week suggests limited precipitation east of the Blue Ridge Mountains (0.10 to 0.25”) with slightly higher, but still below normal, totals forecasted in western portions of the Commonwealth (0.25 to 0.5”). Above normal temperatures are predicted over all the Commonwealth for the next two weeks. Below normal water levels are present in Smith Mountain Lake and Switzer Lake with storage at all other major water supply reservoirs at normal levels.

Groundwater monitoring wells along the Blue Ridge Mountains and throughout northern portions of the state continue to exhibit moderate declines and were generally below or much below normal levels in these areas. Groundwater levels in three indicator wells were below the 5th percentile, one in the Roanoke and two in the Northern Virginia drought evaluation regions. Groundwater levels in three indicator wells were between the 5th and 10th percentiles, one in each of the Roanoke, Northern Virginia, and Upper James drought evaluation regions.

from USGS

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 protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.