Tropical Storm Debby could douse D.C.'s drought conditions

D.C.'s drought conditions could see a bit of relief with rain this week and Tropical Storm Debby approaching.

The big picture: Residents are asked to use water wisely as the region copes with below-average rainfall.

State of play: The District is in moderate to severe drought conditions, as of the latest figures last Thursday from the U.S. Drought Monitor .

• The District and Arlington receive their water entirely from the Potomac River which is low right now, said Michael Nardolilli, head of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin .
• The area still has an adequate water supply thanks to reservoirs, which are 90% full, he added.

What we're watching: T-storms and showers are in the forecast for the rest of this week.

• The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which weakened after making landfall on Monday as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida, could reach the area by the weekend and bring heavy rains.

Reality check: Still, the D.C. region needs three inches of rain to get out of its drought, per WTOP . It's the 39th driest summer so far with just about six inches of rain.

• "Any rain from Hurricane Debby will help," Sherri Lewis, a spokesperson for D.C. Water, told Axios in an email. "But given the extreme heat and dry conditions we've experienced this summer it is unlikely that the benefits will be sustained unless there is a change in the weather pattern."

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