The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has expanded the drought monitoring advisory to include 38 counties:
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 Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William counties
Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties
Southeast Virginia: Chesapeake, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach York-James: Charles City, Hampton, James City, Newport News,New Kent, and York counties
In a press release, DEQ says the past thirty days have seen below normal precipitation levels over the entirety of the Commonwealth. The 8-14 day weather forecast predicts normal to above normal temperatures and chances of slightly below average precipitation. Storage at major water supply reservoirs remain within normal ranges.
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.
