Bright sunshine and winter warmth prevailed here Friday, but a look at the bigger picture shows a less sanguine situation. Friday was a dry day, in a dry month in a dry season.
Moderate drought characterizes conditions closer to the District.
Many residents of the area have reveled in the relative absence of snowfall, but the consequent smooth commuting conditions have come at a cost.
In the winter, crops may not shrivel on the branch or wither on the vine, but more moisture remains important. Deficits in the area under moderate drought, the Weather Service said Thursday, range from 2 to 6 inches over 60 days, and 2 to 8 over 90.
