City behind in rainfall

This year, Lynchburg may not be able to live up to its infamous nickname “Drenchburg.”

Virginia’s rainfall has been almost five inches below average this year. While the lack of rain may currently have students rejoicing as they trade umbrellas and bulky rain boots for flip flops and sunglasses, it may soon have them sweating as the state heads into a drier, hotter summer.

While the winter and spring are usually the state’s wettest seasons, that has not been the case this year. According to WSET meteorologist, Matt Ferguson, Virginia has only received 6.11 inches of rain for this season. Ferguson attributes this lack of rainfall to changing weather patterns that originate in the Pacific Ocean.

“It all goes back to the overall weather pattern. This (past) year, probably in the fall, we started transitioning from a normal to a la Niña weather pattern,” Ferguson said. “The temperature is well below average in the Pacific Ocean and the colder water will start to affect the atmosphere and it changes the entire weather pattern across the country.”

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these la Niña weather patterns will cause different effects in different parts of the country. Here in the southeast, it will cause drier weather conditions. Ferguson predicts that even though the dry weather will stick around through the summer, extreme drought is not a concern.

“We’re heading into the summer months (in) more of a drier weather pattern,” Ferguson said. “But that’s not to say we’re expecting a lot of drought because we could have a few hurricanes that could come up through here in the summer or early fall which would easily drop three to six inches of rain in one storm,” Ferguson said.

Though it may not cause an extreme drought, the la Niña may create several problems in for Lynchburg residents including where gets its water supply. The Pedlar Reservoir in Amherst County is currently the city’s primary water supplier, but if rains cannot replenish the natural stream, the city will have to start getting its water from the James River.

The dry weather will also affect farmers. According to Ferguson, with dry weather comes more sunshine causing higher temperatures. All these factors combined with the dry ground will result in moisture being evaporated out of the soil. This might prove problematic for farmers as they attempt to not only farm, but also nourish their livestock.

While Virginia may not see as much rain as in previous years, Ferguson assures that the state is not at risk for extreme drought.

“While this weather pattern can bring us dry weather and drought right now, extreme drought is not expected,” Ferguson said. “But at the same time it’s drier than normal and likely to remain that way for the rest of the summer.”