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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.
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