Snowstorms, heat waves, a hurricane (sort of) … and now, a drought. Or a drought watch, at least.
The Drought Coordination Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments put a regional drought watch into effect Thursday.
“Even though we are approaching fall when the demand for water typically declines, we want to emphasize and encourage the public to continue practicing outdoor and indoor water conservation measures,” said Drought Coordination Committee Chairman and Fairfax County Executive Anthony H. Griffin.
The “watch” is a step up from “normal,” but short of a “warning” or emergency” in COG’s drought awareness response plan.
Record high temperatures combined with low rainfall has reduced groundwater levels throughout the Potomac River basin. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center has declared 94 percent of the Potomac River basin to be abnormally to extremely dry.
