Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid April 15, 2025 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 with abnormally dry conditions in central Kittitas and west central Yakima counties Near to well above normal precipitation (100-300%) in most areas with pockets of below to near normal precipitation (50-100%) in southeast Kittitas county and portions of Yakima county, northern Wallowa county and the Ochoco and OR Blue Mountains Above to well above normal snow water equivalent (125-500% of normal) in central OR, the Ochoco, Southern Blue Mountain and Umatilla basins, below normal SWE (72%) in the Upper Yakima basin and near normal (90-110%) elsewhere Drought conditions are expected to persist in the central WA Cascades through the end of June while other areas remain drought free 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): None D1 (Moderate Drought): Western Kittitas and Yakima counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): Central Kittitas and west central Yakima counties All other areas are out of Abnormally Dry or Moderate Drought conditions U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map for the Pacific Northwest National Weather Service Pendleton, OR One-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): None Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement):None Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): None Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Northern Wallowa county and a small portion of southwestern Yakima 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 Above to well above normal precipitation (100% to 300% of normal) in most areas Pockets of below normal precipitation (50-100%) in southeast Kittitas county and portions of Yakima county, the Ochoco and Blue Mountains of OR and northern Wallowa county Highest precipitation amounts were 3 to 5 inches over the Cascade crest Generally less than 1 inch 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, OR Cascades and portions of central OR over the last 120-days Near to below normal precipitation (25% to 100% of normal) in the rest of the mountains, north central OR and the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Below normal temperatures (1 to 4 degrees below normal) in portions of Yakima and Kittitas counties, north central OR, the western Ochoco-John Day Highlands and Wallowa County for the last 7 days Above normal temperatures (1 to 4 degrees) in the Blue Mountain Foothills, the central and eastern Columbia Basin, the eastern Ochoco-John Day Highlands and portions of the OR Blue Mountains for the last 7 days Mostly near to above normal temperatures (-1 to 4 degrees) for the the last 30 days except below normal (-1 to -3 degrees) in much of Yakima and Kittitas counties, central and north central OR, western Ochoco-John Day Highlands, southern Blue Mountains and Wallowa county and well below normal (-3 to -6 degrees) in the central Yakima county Greatest departures (1 to 3 degrees above normal) over the last 30 days were seen in the Blue Mountain Foothills and the central and eastern OR and WA Columbia Basin during the last seven days and (3 to 4 degrees below normal) in Yakima county 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 have near normal streamflow (26th-75th percentile) Much above normal streamflow (>90th percentile) is reported across the Naches and Upper John Day basins Above normal streamflow (76th-90th percentile) is reported across the Klickitat, Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula, Upper Columbia-Entiat, Walla Walla, Wallowa, Lower John Day, Middle Fork and North Fork John Day and Lower Crooked basins Snowpack Impacts Snow telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring sites show near normal snowpacks (90-110%) except for well above normal (125%-500%) across the central OR, the Ochoco-John Day Highlands, Southern Blue Mountains and Umatilla basins and below normal (72%) in the Upper Yakima basin. Aside from continued drought in the central WA Cascade basins, 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 Declaration issued for Upper Yakima, Lower Yakima and Naches Watersheds Oregon: No Drought Declarations are in effect 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 April 14, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid April 14, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Much above normal streamflow (above the 90th percentile) for the Naches basin Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) for the Klickitat, Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula, Upper Columbia-Entiat and Walla Walla basins All other basins have normal stream flows (25th-75th percentiles) 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 April 14, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid April 14, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Much above normal streamflow (above the 90th percentile) for the Upper John Day Basin Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentile) for the Wallowa, Walla Walla, Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula, Lower John Day, Middle Fork and North Fork John Day and Lower Crooked basins Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins except no data for the Silvies basin Impacts No known impacts at this time Reduced streamflow may be detrimental to aquatic species and recreational activities. Main Takeaways Little to no snow remains below 4500-5000 feet in the mountains Snowpacks are well above normal (125%-500%) in central OR, eastern mountain and OR Blue Mountain Foothill basins - basins with 500% of normal usually have little to no snow in mid April Near normal snowpack values (90%-110%) are seen across the northern Blue Mountain, Wallowa County and northern OR and southern WA Cascades basins Below normal snowpack value (72%) are seen in the Upper Yakima basin 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 April 14, 2025 Snowpack Conditions and Impacts Snow Water Equivalent Percent of 1991-2020 Median map Main Takeaways Near normal water supply (85% to 110% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast across most of the area for the April-September 2025 period Below normal water supply (70% to 90% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast over the central WA Cascades Well above normal water supply (115% to 160% 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 April 14, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) 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 April 2025 through June 2025 Above normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., a greater than normal risk) for all areas in July 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 - May 2025 Right - June 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued April 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December High pressure through much of the upcoming week will lead to above normal temperatures and little, if any, rain The higher mountains may get up to a tenth of an inch of rain The lower elevations will be generally dry 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 below normal temperatures in WA (33-40%) and equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures in OR Leaning towards below normal precipitation (33-50%) except equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation in far NE OR and SE WA Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid April 21 - 25, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways Equal chances of below, above and near normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of below, above and near normal precipitation except leaning towards below normal precipitation (33-40%) in the Cascades, Simcoe Highlands and Central and North Central OR Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid April 23 - 29, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Equal chances of below, above and near normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of below, above and near normal precipitation except leaning towards below normal precipitation (33-40%) in the Cascades, Simcoe Highlands and Central and North Central OR Main Takeaways for April Equal chances of above normal, near normal and below normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of above normal, near normal and below normal precipitation area-wide 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 April-June 2025 Main Takeaways for April-May-June Equal chances of above normal, near normal and below normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of above normal, near normal and below normal precipitation area-wide Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Outlook. Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to persist in the central WA Cascades through June while all other areas will remain drought free Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and reservoir levels in the Upper Yakima and Naches basins may persist 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 March 31, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released March 31, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook