The entire Shenandoah Valley is now under extreme drought conditions, with portions of West Virginia experiencing severe to extreme drought levels.

These conditions, posted by Drought.gov and calculated by the Drought Management Task Force, are organized by the Department of Environmental Quality. The drought is a result of a lack of precipitation, making this July the driest since records began in 1835.

Due to the current conditions, widespread crop loss is expected, dairy farmers will struggle, and streams will have low to no flow at all. The risk of wildfires will increase if dry conditions persist.

Communities across the region are requesting additional water conservation efforts from all municipal water customers. Well water users are also advised to monitor their consumption, as groundwater levels are well below average.

Strasburg has declared a drought emergency with mandatory restrictions in place. Front Royal, Woodstock, and Berryville have had mandatory restrictions since mid-July. Some communities are instituting penalties for water overuse and abuse.

Please check your community's standards to comply with the water conservation restrictions and regulations.

Source - https://theriver953.com