Station precipitation for December ends at 2.10" (rain and melted snow) or 66% of of NOAA climatology, a departure from normal of -1.10". The water year (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) shows only 4.44" or 48% of normal precip. and a deficit of -4.90". The 3-month period Oct-Dec was the 6th driest on record at the KROA climate site (4.33") with records dating back to 1912 and the driest such period since the drought year of 2001. The 2025 precipitation ends at 39.87" or 92% of normal and deficit of 3.41". 

Hydrologic indicators have resumed a slow decline. The USGS gage on the Roanoke River at Roanoke 7-day flow (as of 12/30) was up just slightly to 83 cfs or the 8th percentile of all flows for the date (35% of median) and in Moderate Hydrologic Drought category (6th to 9th percentile). Carvins Cove local water supply reservoir (as of 12/31) dropped to -10.2 feet below full pond (75.3% of capacity) a -0.9 ft. fall in the past two weeks. The US Drought Monitor (USDM) map valid as of 12/30/25 shows little change--Moderate Drought conditions (D1) across most of central VA. 

NWS CPC  issued a La Niña Advisory in October and La Niña remains present in the tropical Pacific with a 3-month Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) of -0.6 for the SON period. The CPC winter (DJF) forecast indicates an enhanced probability of wetter than normal conditions in the Ohio Valley but drier along the southeast Atlantic coast, a pattern that has already been prevalent this fall and winter season. There has been a notable lack of coastal storm activity leading to the drier season to date.