Parts of southwestern and south central Virginia entered the severe drought classification (D2 on a scale from D0 to D4) on the October 1st issuance of the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor and remained there for the next three weeks (until issuance of October 22nd). Dry conditions actually began as far back as July and August in some areas but the rainfall was very uneven. It was a very dry and hot September that really caused a rapid deterioration in the drought situation in much of Virginia. Several NWS COOP sites had all-time driest Septembers or even the driest of any month. The dry conditions were aggravated by an early October heat wave with numerous record or near-record highs occurred from October 1st through 4th.

Drought in PATRICK, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across southeast Patrick County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Stuart (STUV2) in Patrick County recorded only 0.69 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1923.

Drought in HALIFAX, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across southeast Halifaxl County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at South Boston (SOBV2) in Halifax County recorded only 0.54 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1980.

Drought in GILES, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across most of Giles County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county.  Impacts were primarily agricultural and included pasture losses and reduced hay cuttings. The NWS COOP site at Pearisburg 4 SSE (STFV2) in Giles County recorded a mere 0.15 inches of rain in September. This was the 2nd driest of any month on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1951. The previous record was a trace in October, 2000.

Drought in BLAND, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across nearly all of Bland County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1st to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. Impacts were primarily agricultural and included pasture losses and reduced hay cuttings.

Drought in CRAIG, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across about the northern half of Craig County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1st to October 22nd. Impacts were primarily agricultural and included pasture losses and reduced hay cuttings.

Drought in PULASKI, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across northwest Pulaski County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP station at Pulaski 2 E (PSKV2), with nearly complete data back to 1940 saw only 0.58 inches in September, the 5th driest September on record.

Drought in WYTHE, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across northern Wythe County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Wytheville (WTYV2) in Wythe County recorded a mere 0.23 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1930.

Drought in TAZEWELL, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across northeast Tazewell County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Burkes Garden (BURV2) in southeastern Tazewell County recorded only 0.27 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1896.

Drought in FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across northern Franklin County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Rocky Mount (RYMV2) in  central Franklin County recorded only 0.62 inches of rain in September. This was the 7th driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1894.

Drought in BATH, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across southwest Bath County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. At Hot Springs in Bath County it was the 3rd warmest September on record at 68.6 degrees, coming after 2018 at 69.1. Records date back to 1893 at this station.

Drought in BUCKINGHAM, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 705.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across portions of eastern Buckingham County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Buckingham (BUKV2) recorded only 0.36 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with nearly complete data back to 1950 and sporadic data back to 1894. Damages were mainly to hay and pasture with related economic losses in livestock.

Drought in BEDFORD, VIRGINIA
From 01-OCT-19 07:00:00 to 22-OCT-19 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 9.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Severe drought (D2) was depicted across western Bedford County on the U.S. Drought Monitor from October 1 to October 22nd. An extremely dry and very warm September led to the worsening conditions in the county. The NWS COOP site at Bedford (BDFV2) recorded only 0.31 inches of rain in September. This was the 3rd driest September on record at this station with around 85 years of sporadic data back to 1893. Impacts to corn, soybeans, hay and pasture amounted to around $9 million.