Article Text
Memorial Day weekend storms drenched Northern Virginia, canceling events and delaying water park openings, but the rainfall wasn’t enough to end Fairfax County’s months-long drought warning.
Nearly all of Virginia remains under a drought warning, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality announced May 29. Isle of Wight County and several southeastern cities are the only exceptions, remaining under a less severe drought watch.
A drought warning means a significant drought event is imminent, while a watch advises residents to prepare for a possible drought.
Recent storms delivered an average of 2 to 4 inches of rain across most localities, substantially improving streamflow and moisture near the soil’s surface. Deeper soil moisture and groundwater levels, however, remain far below normal.
The Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force decided to maintain the existing drought designations during its May 26 meeting. The group is scheduled to meet again June 9.
Fairfax County has been under a drought warning since early January. Dry conditions have persisted despite major winter storms that left snow piled along sidewalks and across parking lots for weeks.
National Weather Service measurements at Dulles International Airport recorded approximately 4.6 inches of rain in the area through May 28. Northern Virginia’s precipitation, streamflow and reservoir levels have returned to normal, but groundwater remains at emergency status.
Recovering those underground supplies will require a prolonged stretch of rainfall. Statewide precipitation for the water year that began Oct. 1, 2025, is about 7.5 inches below normal.
Forecasts showed no significant rainfall during the following 14 days. Officials warned that the drought could worsen as summer temperatures rise and more water evaporates from soil and plants.
State environmental officials and the drought task force plan to issue updates every two weeks while the drought continues.
No mandatory water restrictions are in effect. With Virginia facing its most widespread drought in nearly 20 years, Fairfax County has encouraged residents to reduce outdoor water use, repair leaks and run dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads.