While much of the state has been in a drought for months, Hampton Roads has largely avoided issues from low precipitation.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality monitors drought conditions, and the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force issues any potential warnings and advisories. Precipitation alone does not make or break what areas receive an advisory, according to VDEQ; multiple factors such as streamflow and groundwater levels are used as well.
The most recent drought status report, released this month, found that rain from Hurricane Helene brought improvements in streamflow and soil to parts of Virginia under more severe drought conditions. Groundwater levels in most of the commonwealth remained low, the report stated.
“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,” a release from the VDEQ reads. “All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions and detecting and repairing leaks.”
Historic data from the weather service shows that September and August were only slightly drier than the 24-year average by about 1 inch and 2 inches, respectively. July, however, was one of the rainiest since 2000. This year, Norfolk had 10.68 inches of rain during July, just below the record of 10.89 set in July 2004. Rain totals for October are not available yet, but forecasts for the next week do not predict any rain in Hampton Roads.
As for this winter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting that a La Niña weather pattern may have an effect , including precipitation.
A typical La Niña winter in the U.S. brings cold and snow to the Northwest and unusually dry conditions to most of the Southern states, according to the Climate Prediction Center. The Southeast and mid-Atlantic also tend to see higher-than-average temperatures during a La Niña winter. On average, the Hampton Roads area receives between 2.9 to 3.5 inches of rain each month during the winter.
“Locally, the forecast calls for increased probabilities for a warmer than normal winter and near normal to leaning drier than normal for the local area,” according to a report from the National Weather Service in Wakefield. “These probabilities are not as high as areas farther to our south.”
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
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