Drought Information Statement for Eastern/Central VA, NE NC and Lower MD Eastern Shore Valid May 14, 2026 Issued By: NWS Wakefield, VA Contact Information: This product will be updated around June 11, 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 CONDITIONS HAVE EXPANDED ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL VIRGINIA MODERATE TO SEVERE DROUGHT IS IN PLACE ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): In south-central VA and a small sliver of interior northeast NC. D2 (Severe Drought): Most of eastern VA and the lower MD Eastern Shore. D1 (Moderate Drought): In northeast NC and far southeast VA. Recent Change in Drought Intensity Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened: 1-2 class degradation for the lower MD Eastern shore, much of central and eastern VA and a sliver in interior northeast NC No Change: Much of northeast NC and areas north of Richmond, VA from Louisa County to the Northern Neck Drought Improved: None 30 day percent of normal 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 28-day average streamflow anomalies are characterised as being in the “Extreme Low” percentile class 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 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 28-day average streamflow anomalies are characterised as being in the “Extreme Low” percentile class 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 0.25” of precipitation is expected over the next 7 days, ending May 21st. 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.