Drought — Amherst, Virginia

2024-07-01 to 2024-07-31 · Amherst, Virginia

Event narrative

Severe Drought conditions spread to include all of Amherst County on July 2nd after the previous 30 days of precipitation were observed to be between 0.50 and 1.50 inches with locally higher amounts, or between 20 and 30 percent of normal. NASA SPoRT LIS data estimated that average soil moisture in the top 100 cm of soil was between the 10th and 20th percentiles by the 2nd, and was continuing to deteriorate, while streamflows across the eastern half of the county, including in the Pedlar River near Buena Vista, were observed to be below the 10th percentile per the USGS WaterWatch website. Crop production continued to be heavily impacted by the dry conditions, with stunted growth of most corn across the county. Hay production was also heavily impacted, with grasses in many pastures becoming dormant due the combination of dryness and abnormally high warmth.

Wider weather episode

Severe Drought conditions expanded to include most of the NWS Blacksburg service area by the middle of July after roughly 45 days of precipitation totals that were between 25 and 50 percent of normal. Daytime temperatures were an average of 2 to 5 degrees above normal during the period, and the number of hours of daylight per day were the highest of the year, both of which maximized evapotranspiration. These conditions contributed to a rapid decrease in streamflows, groundwater and soil moisture in this region, where observed values for each had fallen below the 10th percentile by the middle of July. The drought occurred at a critical time for crop growth, severely impacting corn and hay production among other crops. Ranchers reported most pasture grasses had wilted and gone dormant due to the dry conditions, forcing ranchers to begin feeding hay to their livestock.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1203005. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.