Mid-Atlantic - Debby quenched Mid-Atlantic drought

The latest drought update shows encouraging improvements in the Mid-Atlantic, especially in northern Virginia and the Maryland and West Virginia panhandles, since Debby dropped several inches of rain last week.

Debby, which churned along the East Coast after making two landfalls in Florida and South Carolina, dropped several inches of drought-quenching rainfall as it made its way northward into the Mid-Atlantic. As much as 7 inches of rain fell across Virginia and Maryland, with more than 5 inches falling in West Virginia before Debby retreated north and east.

These spots in the Mid-Atlantic have been dealing with very little rainfall since the beginning of June with isolated to scattered thunderstorms only reaching a few areas. Since Debby's rainfall, extreme drought has been obliterated in almost all locations of the Mid-Atlantic, except for west-central West Virginia.

In fact, Maryland and Pennsylvania have very little drought of note now since Debby's visit. It will take more rainfall over the next several weeks before the area is fully back on track when it comes to groundwater, but Debby's rain made great improvements.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center is calling for above-average rainfall throughout the East Coast within the next 6 to 10 days. Keep an eye on your local forecast for upcoming rain chances.