A Virginia, 2026 Drought Monitoring - Talking Points

2026 Drought Monitoring Talking Points VIRGINIA JOINT INFORMATION CENTER - PUBLIC INFORMATION TALKING POINTS As of: August 21, 2026 Virginia is experiencing drought conditions across portions of the commonwealth due to prolonged belowaverage precipitation and elevated temperatures. Continued monitoring is necessary as weather patterns and hydrologic conditions evolve. From a meteorological perspective, recent rainfall has led to further improvements in the drought. However, the Roanoke drought assessment region has largely escaped the heavy rainfall, which is where it is needed most, and the long-term effects of the drought are still being seen in other areas (impacts to agriculture, streamflow, and groundwater). For Virginia to completely emerge from this drought, 6-14" of rain is needed across the state over a 30-day period. Improvements were made to the U.S. Drought Monitor this week. Nearly 12% of the state is under a Severe Drought (D2), compared to 18% last week. 65% of the state is no longer considered in a drought. For the latest from the U.S. Drought Monitor and additional statistics: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?VA The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead agency for drought monitoring and coordination, supported by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and other state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Forestry (DOF), Fire Programs (VDFP), Wildlife Resources (DWR), and Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM):

• The Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) remains at YELLOW – Increased Monitoring for drought conditions.
• VDEM continues close coordination with local, state, and federal partners, as well as voluntary agencies, to monitor ongoing impacts, share timely information, and coordinate resources as needed.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ):

• DEQ monitors and evaluates hydrologic and water supply conditions and evaluates drought conditions following guidance in the Virginia Drought Assessment and Response Plan. The Virginia Drought

Monitoring Task Force (DMTF) is responsible for making recommendations for Drought Stage declarations.

• The DMTF is an inter-agency group which is comprised of officials from DEQ, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the National Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers.

• The DMTF recommends drought stage declarations to the Commonwealth Drought Coordinator (CDC).

The CDC is appointed by the Governor or the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; and administrations have typically not appointed a CDC until a drought warning declaration is proposed.

• The Governor may declare a state of emergency through an executive order in response to a recommendation of a drought emergency. The recommendation of the CDC is advisory and does not compel issuance of an executive order; the Governor takes the recommendation under consideration, together with other relevant factors, including differences in conditions among localities and regions, community needs, and the status of local response measures, in determining whether, when, and to what extent to issue an executive order declaring a state of emergency.
• The DMTF currently meets weekly on Tuesdays to publish its recommendations normally by the end of the week.
• DEQ and the DMTF gauge the presence and severity of hydrologic drought across 13 Drought Evaluation Regions. They consider information about recent and forecasted precipitation, groundwater

levels, streamflows, and reservoir levels when determining the drought status.

• The DMTF met on Aug. 18 to assess current drought conditions. After review, advisory status were maintained as follows: a drought emergency advisory for the Roanoke Drought Evaluation Region,

drought warning advisories for the Chowan, Eastern Shore, Northern Coastal Plain, Northern Piedmont, Northern Virginia, Shenandoah, Upper James, and portions of the Middle James Drought Evaluation Regions, and drought watch advisories for the Big Sandy, New River, Southeast Virginia, York James, as well as the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, and Henrico, and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg in the Middle James Drought Evaluation Region. The DMTF recommendations are due to: o Streamflows were largely normal, with below-normal flow observed in portions of the James, Roanoke, and Shenandoah watersheds. o Soil moisture in shallower soils shows improvement, with near-normal conditions in most areas of the state. Drier-than-normal soils persist in southern portions of the Chowan, Roanoke, and Shenandoah drought evaluation regions. o Groundwater levels continue to be much below normal, with indicator wells in northern and southcentral areas of the state at or near historic record-low water levels. o Reservoir levels across the commonwealth were all within normal ranges, except for Smith Mountain Lake and John Kerr Reservoir, which remain much below normal for this time of year. o Precipitation over the past seven days was near or above normal across much of the commonwealth. Precipitation over the past 30 days has been above normal for most of the state except for portions of the Chowan, Shenandoah, and Roanoke Drought Evaluation Regions. While there has been a shift toward above-normal precipitation for portions of the commonwealth, areas around Danville, Lynchburg, and Staunton remain drier than normal.

• The latest drought status is available at www.deq.virginia.gov/drought.
• For the drought to end, many parts of the commonwealth will need sustained rainfall at an above normal rate to recharge groundwater and improve streamflows.
• The DMTF will meet again on Aug. 25.
• Should the situation continue, the Governor may issue a drought emergency declaration to activate mandatory water use restrictions.

Virginia Department of Health (VDH):

• The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) continue to monitor drought conditions and coordinate conservation efforts with waterworks. To date a total of 508 community water systems have some sort of

conservation measure in place. For more information on ODW’s efforts and the impact on waterworks, please visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/source-water-programs/drought-monitoringprogram/

• Drought conditions can have significant impacts on private wells.

The Virginia Department of Health recommends private well owners to discontinued non-essential water uses in areas of a declared drought warning or emergency. Non-essential water uses include: o Unrestricted irrigation of lawns. o Unrestricted irrigation of golf courses. o Unrestricted irrigation of athletic fields. o Washing paved surfaces. o Washing or cleaning of automobiles, trucks, trailers, and boats. o Use of water for operation of ornamental uses (e.g. fountains). o Use of water to fill and top off outdoor swimming pools.

• Private well owners should visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/responding-toemergencies-affecting-your-private-well/ for more information about the drought and private wells.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS):

• A total of 125 Virginia localities received drought disaster designations from the United States Secretary of Agriculture. These U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretarial drought designations make farmers in the designated localities eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance.

Farmers in eligible localities have eight months from the date of disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. Virginia farmers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office to determine their eligibility. A list of the Virginia localities with drought disaster designation is available at https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/conservation-and-environmental-disaster-resources-farmers.shtml

• The need for hay is slowing but remains a concern for some Virginia farmers. VDACS maintains a Hay Clearing House to help connect farmers seeking hay with farmers who have hay for sale. The online publication was updated on August 14, 2026.
• VDACS continues to participate in the Drought Monitoring Task Force led by DEQ, and the State Emergency Board, and convened by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE):

• In drought-affected areas that received rain over the last week, plants will need time to recover enough for late summer/fall grazing and forage has not immediately improved. Forage has improved in areas of the state that have experienced extended recent rain and cool weather.
• Agents specializing in forestry report a high volume of tree-related inquiries as drought stress can make trees more vulnerable to disease and insect pressure. In areas of severe drought as indicated by the Drought Monitor, urban and residential trees that were hanging on from previous stressors may die.
• Hay stocks have not improved from the reported 35%-70% loss in hay yields statewide. Efforts continue to connect producers with out-of-state sellers of hay; producers should complete the form located here or reach out to Ms. Stephanie Cornnell at [email protected] or 703-586-3212. Please allow 48

hours for a response.

• Producers experiencing drought-related losses are urged to contact their local Farm Service Agency and Extension offices as soon as possible.

Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF):

• Drought related conditions and impacts have generally increased over the last week, although in two of the six reporting locations, drought impacts decreased because of localized heavy rainfall. Over the last week, the DOF’s Keetch-Byrum Drought Index (KBDI) showed a significant decrease at the Charlottesville reporting station (lower KBDI = lower level of drought impact through higher soil moistures). However, KBDI measures increased at four of the agencies six reporting locations and conditions continued to worsen significantly at the reporting locations with the highest (driest) KBDI readings this past week.
• DOF KBDI readings as of 08/19/26:

(KDBI ranges from 0 (no soil moisture depletion) to 800 (absolute dry conditions)). A “normal” KBDI for this time of year would be around 100. Wakefield – 581 Tappahannock – 349 Charlottesville - 11 Farmville – 367 Salem – 561 Abingdon – 166

• Over the last week, the DOF has suppressed 4 wildfires that burned a total of 363 acres.
• There are currently no significant drought related impacts to forestry-related concerns and there are little to no adverse drought related impacts on wildfire occurrence or control in the commonwealth.

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR):

• Even though there has been rain in many areas of the state, boaters should continue to inspect any launch they are planning to use before backing a trailer down to make sure their trailer wheels will

remain on the launch surface.

• Boaters should continue to watch their speed and have a passenger act as lookout to prevent collisions with unmarked navigational hazards exposed by low water levels and to prevent getting stuck in very shallow water.
• Low flows can make it difficult to float certain stretches of rivers and may make previously navigable sections impassable. Paddlers and boaters should be aware of how low water may impact their planned route.
• Boaters can check United States Geological Survey for the streamflow of many creeks and rivers.

https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/en/?aoi=state-va

• Wildlife Management Area users and campers are advised to always be vigilant with fire safety and extra careful during these drought conditions.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR):

• State Park visitors are advised to remain especially vigilant with campfires during ongoing drought conditions.
• Visitors are encouraged to check the Virginia State Parks website at www.virginiastateparks.gov for updates and alerts before traveling.

Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP):

• VDFP asked water teams in each division for a summary of training courses that have been modified or canceled. We are also tracking any damaged equipment due to low water levels during training courses and the estimated cost of repairs. Please see below for reports from departments:

o Henrico County: Has three sections of the river to choose from for training days which has allowed the county to avoid boat damage. Teams have had to pivot locations and/or topics approximately six times this summer because of low water conditions. o Giles County: Experienced equipment damage because of operating in a low-water environment. During the class, one pump jet lower unit was damaged. Additionally, all five watercraft that participated from other agencies sustained damage to the lower units because of the low-water conditions.