Despite tons of snow and ice, drought advisories expanded in Virginia

Drought conditions are present in most of Virginia, and despite recent winter precipitation, the snow and ice has not been enough to recharge ground and surface water.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has expanded the warning advisory to now include 39 counties and 16 cities, and has maintained the existing drought watch advisory in 44 counties and 15 cities in Virginia.

Twelve counties and seven cities are not currently under drought watch or warning advisories, according to the DEQ.

Reservoir levels across the Commonwealth remain largely normal, except for Smith Mountain Lake, where warning conditions are present, and Lake Moomaw, where watch conditions are present.

The forecast for the next week suggests limited precipitation for most of the state.

The task force is scheduled to meet again on Feb. 17.

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ICYMI

• DEQ: Drought conditions persist across majority of Virginia, including Shenandoah Valley

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Businesses and residents in Virginia are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions and detecting and repairing leaks.

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.

Drought warning advisory

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A drought warning advisory is intended to increase awareness that the onset of a significant drought event is imminent and includes the following areas:

• Chowan: Brunswick, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Prince George, Southampton, Surry and Sussex counties and the cities of Emporia and Franklin.
• 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.
• Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties and the cities of Danville, Martinsville, Roanoke and Salem.
• Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren counties and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro and Winchester.

Drought watch advisory

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

• Middle James: Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Nelson, Powhatan and Prince Edward counties and the cities of Charlottesville, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Lynchburg, Petersburg and Richmond.
• New River: Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties and the cities of Galax and Radford.
• Northern Coastal Plain: Caroline, Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland, Richmond and Westmoreland counties
• Upper James: Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland and Rockbridge counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington.
• York-James: Charles City, James City, New Kent and York counties and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg.