News

Actions

Drought grows with Winter wildfire threat

Posted at 8:55 AM, Nov 29, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-29 09:04:38-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – With a new recordfifth driest November nearly in the books for Richmond, it’s no surprise that our drought is worsening again after showing signs of improvement in recent months. Instead, late Fall has not been kind to Virginia in the areas needing rainfall the most.

This week’s Drought Monitor shows expanding Moderate Drought (D1) and Abnormally Dry areas. The D1 growth is particularly concerning, as that is the first level of drought. This area had been shrinking, but never fully healed in central Virginia, over the Summer and early Fall.

There have already been elevated fire danger days in western and southwestern Virginia the past couple of weeks, and this will likely become a trend through our Winter months if we do not pick up appreciable rainfall. Typically we have a Spring and Fall “fire season” in Virginia, but we may not get the usual break this Winter from December through mid-February. CLICK HERE to learn more about wildfires in Virginia.

Here is our latest year-to-date rainfall deficit in Virginia:

NOAA

Meteorologist Carrie Rose
“Like” Carrie on Facebook
Follow Carrie on Twitter