Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid February 21, 2024 Issued By: NWS Pendleton Contact Information: pdt.operations@noaa.gov This product will be updated if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/pdt/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Moderate Drought remain in portions of western Kittitas and Yakima counties and northern Wallowa county with abnormally dry conditions in Central Kittitas and Yakima counties, central OR Cascades, WA Blue Mountains and northern Union and central Wallowa counties Mostly below normal precipitation (50-100% of normal in WA and northeastern OR with mostly above normal precipitation (100-150% of normal) from central OR northeast into Wallowa county Well above normal snow water equivalent (100-200% of normal) reported in mountain snowpack in most areas, below normal snow water equivalent (85-95% of normal) in the WA Cascade basins Precipitation is forecast to end drought conditions area-wide during the upcoming winter months 1 Link to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): None D1 (Moderate Drought): Western Kittitas and Yakima counties and northern Wallowa county D0: (Abnormally Dry): Central Kittitas and western Yakima counties, central OR Cascades, WA Blue Mountains, northern Union and central Wallowa counties All other areas have improved enough to be removed from Abnormally Dry or Moderate Drought conditions U.S. Drought Monitor Link to the latest 4-week change map for the Pacific Northwest National Weather Service Pendleton, OR One-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Small portions of western Kittitas and Yakima counties Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement):None Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (2 Class Degradation): Portions of the WA Cascade crest in Yakima county Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Portions of western Kittitas and Yakima counties Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Portions of Wallowa county. Image Captions: Right - 4 Week Drought Class Change Left - 1 Week Drought Class Change Data Courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor and Drought.gov Recent Change in Drought Intensity Mostly below normal precipitation (50% to 90% of normal) in WA and central and northeastern OR Above to well above normal precipitation (110% to 200% of normal) far southeastern Deschutes county, southern Crook and Grant counties and most of Wallowa county Near normal precipitation (90-110%) along portions of the OR Blue Mountains, WA and OR Columbia Basin, Ochoco-John Day Highlands and central Oregon Highest precipitation amounts were 3 to 4 inches over the Cascade crest, Wallowa Mountains and portions of the Blue Mountains Generally less than 2 inches in the lower elevations Image Captions: Right - Precipitation Amount for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Data Courtesy Precipitation - Last 30 Days Image Captions: Right - Precipitation Amounts for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Courtesy of Drought.gov Near to above normal precipitation (100% to 300% of normal) in the OR and WA Columbia Basin, the Blue Mountain Foothills and small portions of central OR over the last 120-days Near to below normal precipitation (25% to 75% of normal) in the mountains and portions of central and north central OR and the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Well below normal temperatures (more than 8 degrees below normal) in all areas for the last 7 days Below to well below normal temperatures (0 to 6 degrees) the last 30 days Greatest departures (6 to 8 degrees below normal) over the last 30 days were seen across the eastern WA Columbia Basin, WA Blue Mountain Foothills, portions of the Blue Mountains and far northern Wallowa county during the last seven days Image Captions: Right - Temperature for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Courtesy of Drought.gov Temperature - Last 7 and 30 Days Hydrologic Impacts Most basins report well below normal streamflow (< 25th percentile) Near normal streamflow (26th-75th percentile) across the Naches, Upper Crab, Walla Walla, Lower John Day, Willow and Powder basins Above normal streamflow (76th-100th percentile) across the Lower Crooked and Wallowa basins Snowpack Impacts Most snow telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring sites show a near to well above normal snowpack (105-200% of normal). Snowpack values are 85-95% of normal in the WA Cascades. There are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Other Impacts Washington: Washington Drought Emergency declared for all counties east of the Cascades Oregon: No Drought Declaration for Year 2025 as of this Drought Information Statement Mitigation actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Summary of Impacts Image Captions: Right - USGS 7-day average streamflow station map valid February 19, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid February 19, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways The Upper and Lower Yakima, Lower Yakima, Palouse and Lower Grande Ronde basins have much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) The Naches, Upper Crab and Walla Walla basins have normal stream flows (25th-75th percentiles) Other river, stream, and creek flows are below normal (10th-25th percentile) Impacts No known impacts at this time Reduced streamflow may be detrimental to aquatic species and recreational activities. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Washington Image Captions: Right - USGS 7-day average streamflow station map valid February 19, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid February 19, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Much below normal streamflow (<10th percentile) for the Lower Grande Ronde basin Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentile) for the Walla Walla, Lower John Day, Willow and Powder basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentile) for the Lower Crooked basin Much above normal streamflow (>90th percentile) for the Wallowa basin Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentile) for all other basins Impacts No known impacts at this time Reduced streamflow may be detrimental to aquatic species and recreational activities. Main Takeaways Mountain snowpack snow water equivalent reports are well above normal (150%-200%) across the OR eastern mountains Above normal snowpack values (105%-130%) are seen elsewhere across the oregon Cascades, eastern Washington and Wallowa county basins Below normal snowpack values (85%-96%) are seen in the WA Cascade basins Impacts No known impacts at this time Snow water equivalent is related to the amount of water stored in snowpack. Snow can affect the amount of available water for spring and summer snow melt. This can have impacts on water storage, irrigation, fisheries, vegetation, municipal water supplies, and wildfire. Image Captions: Oregon and Washington SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent % of Normal Data Courtesy USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Daily Value as of February 19, 2025 Snowpack Conditions and Impacts Link to the latest Snow Water Equivalent Percent of 1991-2020 Median map Main Takeaways Near to above normal water supply (80-120% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast across most of the area for the April-September 2025 period Well above normal water supply (150-170% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast across the southern Blue mountains and the Ochoco-John Day Highlands Impacts No known impacts at this time Low reservoir levels would be expected to affect agriculture production, fish, and other aquatic species. Image Caption: Ensemble Streamflow Prediction Natural Forecast Data Courtesy NOAA NWS Northwest River Forecast Center Issued February 19, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) Link to the latest Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast. Water Supply Forecast - April - September 2025 Forecast (% of normal) Main Takeaways Normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., very low risk) for all areas February 2025 through May 2025 Significant wildland fires are expected at typical times (e.g., warm season) and intervals during normal significant wildland fire potential conditions Image Caption: Left - March 2025 Right - April 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued February 3, 2024 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December A series of systems fed by an atmospheric river at times will bring moderate rain and high mountain snow to the area Friday night into early next week. The mountains will get 1 to 4 inches of rain or snow The lower elevations will get up to a half inch of rain Visit weather.gov/Pendleton for the latest weather forecast Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Main Takeaways Leaning towards above normal temperatures in all areas (60-70%) Leaning towards below normal precipitation in all areas (33-50%) Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid February 25, 2025 - March 1, 2025 Link to the latest Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways Leaning towards below normal temperatures area-wide (33-40%) Leaning towards below normal precipitation area-wide (33-50%) Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid February 27, 2025 - March 5, 2025 Link to the latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Updated February 20, 2024 Main Takeaways for January Odds favor below normal temperatures (33-50%) area-wide Odds favor above normal precipitation (33-50%) area-wide Link to the latest Climate Prediction Center Monthly Outlook. Monthly Climate Outlook Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid March-May 2025 Main Takeaways for January-February-March Odds leaning towards below normal temperatures (33-40%) in WA and far northern OR with equal chances of above, below or near normal in the rest of northeast OR Odds leaning towards above normal precipitation (40-50%) for all areas Link to the latest Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Outlook. Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to end in the WA Cascades and northern Wallowa county and after that, all areas will be drought free by the end of May Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and reservoir levels may persist a while longer and this could result in possible reduction in agricultural yield, crop loss, and poor pasture conditions where irrigation water is not available. Image Captions: Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Released January 31, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released February 20, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook