Henrico County remains under drought watch

Henrico County remains under a drought watch as dry conditions continue across central and eastern Virginia, according to a Nov. 6 update from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Most of the Middle James drought evaluation region is under a warning, but the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover and the cities of Richmond, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg remain at the watch level. A watch calls for close monitoring and voluntary conservation, while a warning reflects more significant impacts and can prompt stronger response measures.

DEQ said many central and eastern areas received no measurable precipitation during the preceding 14 days. Streamflow, soil-moisture and groundwater indicators were below normal in affected regions. The York James region was elevated from watch to warning, while other existing advisories remained in place.

Virginia's Drought Monitoring Task Force was scheduled to review conditions again Nov. 10. Residents and businesses should consult the state drought dashboard and local water providers for current conditions and any conservation guidance.

More information is available on the DEQ's drought webpage.