May 24, 2013 - May rainfall to date has been plentiful in Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia with amounts running mostly 1 to 3 inches above normal. Rainfall has been close to average in Maryland and Delaware with scattered areas of below normal (by an inch or so) in the central and lower Delmarva Peninsula and some areas adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay. Precipitation over the past 90 days has been near normal plus or minus an inch or two over much of the area though there are wetter spots in central and west-central Virginia where precipitation has been 2 to 4 inches above normal.

Current (May 24) streamflow data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that streamflows are mostly near to above normal. Groundwater levels are generally near normal.

The weather outlook through the first week of June calls for near or below normal rainfall. Temperatures are expected to be below normal for Memorial Day weekend but then warm to above normal levels. The Climate Prediction Center's 30 day outlook for June calls for near normal precipitation and temperatures. The 90 day summer outlook for June through August calls for near average precipitation and above normal temperatures.

The outlook for water resources is good or very good in the south and good in the north. Significant long term rainfall has left plentiful water resources and supplies in the southern portion of the MARFC service area. Rainfall has been somewhat less abundant further north (mainly in Maryland and northern Delaware), but conditions are still moist. These conditions should remain stable unless (or until) a longer term dry weather pattern occurs. This does not, for now, appear to be the likely.

In summary, the southern portion of the MARFC service area has sufficient (even abundant) water resources and water supplies. These water resources are likely to maintain current levels or begin their typical long term summer decrease in the upcoming weeks but remain sufficient with no water shortages expected in the next several weeks.

End.