Drought Information Statement for Eastern/Central VA, NE NC and Lower MD Eastern Shore Valid April 16, 2026 Issued By: NWS Wakefield, VA Contact Information: This product will be updated around May 14, 2026 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/AKQ/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Questions or comments can be sent to jonathan.mcgee@noaa.gov. EXTREME DROUGHT CONTINUES FOR A SMALL SLIVER OF INTERIOR NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH-CENTRAL VIRGINIA MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT IS IN PLACE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA, AND MOST OF THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): A small sliver of interior northeast NC and south-central VA. D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of the VA Piedmont and south-central VA, the VA Northern Neck, Eastern Shore, and also parts of interior northeast NC. D1 (Moderate Drought): Much of the rest of NWS Wakefield’s Hydrologic Service Area (HSA), including the Richmond Metro, Hampton Roads, coastal northeast NC and lower MD Eastern Shore. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: 1-2 class degradation for much of central and eastern VA and a sliver in interior northeast NC No Change: Much of far southern and southeast VA, northeast NC and the lower MD Eastern Shore Drought Improved: Little to none 30 day percent of normal Precipitation A large portion of NWS Wakefield’s HSA has seen less than 50% percent of normal precipitation over the past 30 days. Summary of Impacts Hydrologic Impacts Much-below-normal streamflows are currently observed across all major river basins in central and eastern Virginia, northeast North Carolina and the lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Mitigation Actions State of Virginia has a drought warning in place for most of central and eastern Virginia. State of Virginia has a drought watch in place for the Eastern Shore and southside Hampton Roads. State of Maryland continues the drought warning for the lower Maryland Eastern Shore. A drought advisory is in effect for all of northeast North Carolina due to moderate to severe drought conditions. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts Much-below-normal streamflows are currently observed across all major river basins in central and eastern Virginia, northeast North Carolina and the lower Maryland Eastern Shore. Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Less than 0.10” of precipitation is expected over the next 7 days, ending April 23rd. Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Near- to above normal precipitation is favored from May 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026. Above normal temperatures are favored from May 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026. Drought Outlook The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage Drought conditions are expected to persist for much of the area through the end of July 2026.