Today, Monday February 24, 2025, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, lifted drought advisories for 28 localities in Virginia. However a “drought watch advisory“ is still in place for Clarke and Frederick Counties as well as areas in the Eastern Shore, Northern Virginia, and for portions of the Northern Coastal Plain regions. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/VADEQ/bulletins/3d3dc98

“DEQ monitors four key hydrologic indicators across the thirteen Drought Evaluation Regions to gauge the presence and severity of hydrologic (water supply) drought. The key indicators are precipitation, groundwater levels at observation wells that indicate regional shallow groundwater conditions, stream gaging stations, and levels at major water-supply reservoirs.  Each indicator has thresholds for drought stage determination.” https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quantity/drought/drought-indicators-assessment

While many regions in Virginia have had measurable winter precipitation that has lead to increased soil moisture, streamflow, and groundwater levels, areas in the northern and northeastern portions of the state still have low soil moisture that contributes to slower groundwater recharge.

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