Virginia drought deepens as state tracks record-low water indicators
Virginia is averaging 7.8 inches below normal rainfall, while the Roanoke region faces emergency-level drought conditions and record-low readings in some wells.
drought
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Texas keeps wildfire, drought and flooding disasters active across dozens of counties
Texas lists six active disaster declarations, including designations covering 50 counties for drought, 15 for Hill Country and Central Texas flooding, and 11 for wildfire.
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SDSU Extension urges South Dakota livestock producers to test water as drought raises salt concerns
South Dakota State University Extension is offering free water testing after recent tests found some ponds, creeks and streams may contain unsafe salt levels for livestock.
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Oregon secures federal assistance for three wildfire responses as 2026 fire season intensifies
Oregon approved three federal Fire Management Assistance Grants in July, while state officials mobilized resources to the Town Gulch Fire on Aug. 6 amid severe drought and low snowpack.
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Raleigh Keeps Stage 1 Water Restrictions in Place as Drought Continues
Raleigh’s Stage 1 water restrictions remain in effect after a July 9 update, affecting water use as the city manages continuing drought conditions and growth.
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Brunswick County tightens mandatory water restrictions affecting Supply
Brunswick County moved to Stage 3 mandatory water restrictions on July 10 as drought conditions worsened, limiting irrigation and other nonessential uses across the county, including Supply.
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Durham Keeps Stage 2 Water Response in Place During Drought
Durham’s Stage 2 water-shortage response took effect June 15 and remained listed by the city during an Aug. 7 search amid ongoing extreme drought.
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WMO Warns El Niño Could Rapidly Intensify Into a Strong Event by September 2026
The World Meteorological Organization says developing El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific could increase risks of floods, drought, altered cyclone activity and pressure on food and water systems worldwide.
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Santa Rosa Lake drawdown exposes New Mexico’s widening drought pressures
A scheduled Army Corps water release for the Carlsbad Irrigation District is projected to cut Santa Rosa Lake storage from about 40,000 acre-feet to 3,500 acre-feet and close the state park’s boat ramp.
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Connecticut sends six-person wildland-fire crew to help fight Canadian fires
Connecticut DEEP mobilized six Forestry Division firefighters to support wildfire suppression efforts in Quebec as the state continued managing drought-related fire concerns and wildfire-smoke air-quality impacts.
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Dunnellon remains under one-day-a-week watering restrictions through Oct. 1
The Southwest Florida Water Management District extended its Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage order, requiring Dunnellon residents—including private-well users—to water only one day per week.
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Wyoming drought and wildfire season intensify pressure on the state’s water strategy
A near-record dry winter and the state’s driest spring in decades have left most of Wyoming in extreme or severe drought, putting agricultural water demand at the center of a worsening wildfire season.
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Colorado Wildfire Response and Recovery Costs Projected at $266 Million
State officials presented an early 90-day projection that response, suppression and recovery for Colorado’s four largest summer wildfires could cost about $266 million.
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Montana heat wave raises wildfire and public-health concerns as drought persists
Eastern Montana’s early-August heat event heightened heat-illness and fire-weather concerns as drought continues to stress Montana water supplies.
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Tampa Water Customers Remain Under Once-a-Week Irrigation Rules
Tampa properties remain under once-a-week watering rules through October 1, 2026, while regional water supplies remain strained by drought.
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Federal Colorado River plan puts Lake Powell and Mead on deadline
A federal proposal could require deeper Colorado River cuts as low reservoirs threaten water deliveries, hydropower and recreation before Oct. 1.
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One-Day-Per-Week Watering Limits Continue for Apollo Beach Through Oct. 1
Hillsborough County extended one-day-per-week irrigation restrictions through October 1, 2026. The schedule applies to qualifying properties in unincorporated Apollo Beach and includes private-well users.
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Federal drought update puts nearly half of Lower 48 in drought
A July 30 federal update found drought across 47.89% of the Lower 48, with worsening conditions in parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest.
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Colorado River proposal could force deeper cuts in 3 states
A final federal environmental review advances a plan that could reduce Colorado River use in Arizona, California and Nevada after 2026.
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Colorado River states face proposed water-use cuts as Nevada’s 2026 deadline nears
Nevada is included in a proposed Colorado River framework that could bring deeper reductions after 2026, but no new household restriction is in effect.
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Burlington remains under Stage One voluntary water conservation alert
Burlington says its water supply remains sufficient for current demand, but a Stage One voluntary conservation alert effective July 7 remains active as drought pressure continues.
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Richmond region continues voluntary water conservation measures as officials review conditions
Richmond and five neighboring counties remain under voluntary water-conservation measures as officials review James River flows, rainfall and state drought guidance during the week of August 3.