CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – The U.S. Drought Monitor shows the severe drought that has mostly been over the Blue Ridge, into the Valley, and counties farther north has crept into our area… including a portion of Albemarle County. The map this week shows fairly dry weather into the fall has kept those areas that have had severe drought in that status, and has now progressed into western portions of Albemarle, Nelson, and Amherst counties. Up until this week, those counties had moderate drought in their western portions, and “abnormally dry” conditions in the east. Now, they have portions right along the Blue Ridge “severe”, most of the county areas “moderate”, and small portions in their eastern sections “abnormally dry”.

Officials encourage conserving fresh water as the water table continues to decline. Albemarle County and Charlottesville, for about a month, have called for voluntary water conservation measures.