Despite significant rainfall last week, a regional drought has worsened.

Between one and two inches of rain fell across the Northern Shenandoah Valley between roughly 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday, according to National Weather Service reports.

The rain resulted from a strong atmospheric low pressure system that pushed its way across the area.

It was the heaviest bout of precipitation since mid-July when approximately 1.5 inches also fell.

However, the U.S. Drought Monitor website now shows Winchester and all of Frederick County, plus most of Clarke County, to be suffering from severe drought.

Before the monitor's weekly update Thursday, southeastern Frederick and all of Clarke were under moderate drought. Only a small portion of northeast Clarke still is under that lesser s

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