USGS--Drought Watch--Virginia

Provisional Assessment of Hydrologic Conditions in Virginia
February 15, 2002

Streamflows across the State are well below the normal range of flow expected during winter
months despite recent snow and rain. Streamflows are at levels expected during the late fall
months when flows generally are at annual minimums. At some streamgages, record minimums
for the month can be expected. Ground-water storage (as indicated by well levels) is well below
conditions expected during winter months.

Current hydrologic drought conditions result from precipitation patterns over the past several
years. The current Statewide drought began in the summer of 1997. Precipitation was well
below normal during the summer and fall of 1997, allowing streamflows to decline to levels
below the normal range of flows. Precipitation was well above normal during the winter of
1998, increasing groundwater storage and streamflow to levels above the normal range of
flows. During the summer and fall of 1998, precipitation again was well below normal, causing
a significant agricultural drought; however streamflows never declined to below normal levels
until late fall because of the unusually high ground-water storage. Ground-water storage was
not replenished significantly during the winter of 1999 and new record minimums were recorded
during the summer of that year. Hurricanes Dennis and Floyd brought significant precipitation
during the fall of 1999 which boosted ground-water storage in the eastern half of the State.
During the winters of 2000 and 2001, precipitation did not replenish the ground-water storage
to the extent normally expected, and well levels have continued to decline. Precipitation patterns
during the summers of 2000 and 2001 have allowed streamflows to maintain conditions near the
normal range of flow.

The following graphs and table give flow duration and current flow conditions for selected U.S.
Geological Survey and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality ground-water and surface-water
gaging stations. Data are provisional and subject to revision. The normal range of flows is defined as
flows in the middle two quartiles (between those flows equaled or exceeded 75 percent of the time and
those flows equaled or exceeded 25 percent of the time).

BUCKINGHAM COUNTY WELL

LOUISA COUNTY WELL

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY WELL

CLARKE COUNTY WELL

HYDROGRAPH, NORTH FORK SHENANDOAH RIVER NEAR STRASBURG, VA

Hydrograph, NF Shenandoah River near Strasburg

HYDROGRAPH, NOTTOWAY RIVER NEAR SEBRELL, VA

HYDROGRAPH, NORTH FORK HOLSTON RIVER NEAR SALTVILLE, VA

Hydrograph, NF Holston River near Saltville

URL://va.water.usgs.gov/drought/index_feb15.htm Last modified: 03/13/02 11:56:42 AM