Amid Severe Drought, Several Virginia Counties Brace for Flooding

Shenandoah Valley StormscapePhoto byLara Ellis Photography

LURAY, Va. -- With much of Northern Virginia experiencing severe drought conditions, the promise of much-needed rain sounds almost too good to be true.

In a "be careful what you ask for" twist, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued Hazardous Weather Statements for a significant portion of the Commonwealth on Tuesday.

These July 23, 2024 weather statements included warnings of substantial rainful and even flash-flooding, referencing the following Virginia areas:

Portions of central, northern, northwest, and western Virginia, including the following areas, in central Virginia, Albemarle, Central Virginia Blue Ridge, Greene, Orange and Spotsylvania. In northern Virginia, Culpeper, Southern Fauquier and Stafford. In northwest Virginia, Madison, Northern Virginia Blue Ridge, Page and Rappahannock. In western Virginia, Augusta and Rockingham.

According to the weather warning:

Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

Virginia drought conditions as of July 23, 2024Photo byhttps://www.drought.gov/states/virginia

Virginia is experiencing historic drought conditions. According to the federal drought monitor website, the area expected to receive the most rain is also the experiencing the state's worst drought conditions.

Additional details from the NWS alert included:

Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening could have intense rain rates exceeding 2 inches per hour. If locally repetitive or prolonged thunderstorms develop, flash flooding could occur in flood prone urban and suburban areas.

Virginia generally receives more than 40 inches of precipitation per year. However, the state has a history of multi-year droughts, including the record-breaking droughts of 1999–2002, 2007–2008, and 2010–2012.

The AWS flood watch for July 23 is in effect until 11 p.m.