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Drought Monitoring Task Force expands warning advisory (copy) (copy) (copy)
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, has expanded the warning advisory to now include 83 counties and 31 cities, and has established new drought watch advisories in 12 counties and 7 cities in Virginia. At this time, all localities within the Commonwealth are under drought watch or warning advisories.
Parts of Southwest Virginia are now in the warned area, including Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe counties and the cities of Galax and Radford.
The Big Sandy District, which includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wise counties and the cities of Bristol and Norton, is under a drought watch.
A drought warning advisory is intended to increase awareness that the onset of a significant drought event is imminent/
A drought watch advisory is intended to help Virginians prepare for a potential drought.
As a result of these dry conditions, agricultural impacts are widespread and there is increased danger of wildfires. Additionally, the expansion of the drought declarations is consistent with the designations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where farmers may be eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loans.
Recent precipitation has been below normal throughout the Commonwealth. Soil moisture conditions are much below normal statewide, with significant drying occurring during the past two weeks. Streamflow levels are well below normal, with numerous stream gages in the Dan, New, and Rappahannock River basins setting provisional single-day record lows. Groundwater levels have declined across the Commonwealth and are much below normal in northern areas of the state, along the Blue Ridge Mountains, and around the City of Roanoke. In addition to significantly warmer than normal temperatures, most of the Commonwealth is forecasted to see less than a tenth of an inch of rain in the next week.
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 conserve water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions, and detecting and repairing leaks.
Pets of the Week
Pets of the Week
Foster mama cat Gracie is such a sweetheart! Found very pregnant, the Floyd County Humane Society took her in and gave her a safe place to have her kittens. She has been such a good mom to her three babies. Gracie and her kitties will be available for adoption after weaning next month. Contact the Floyd County Humane Society at 540-745-7207 for information about Gracie or any of our other cats and dogs.
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