Drought Information Statement for Western Washington Valid April 19, 2024 Issued By: NWS Seattle, WA Contact Information: This product will be updated by May 10, 2024 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/sew/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. STATE OF WASHINGTON DECLARES NEARLY STATEWIDE DROUGHT EMERGENCY (see link) Low snowpack conditions; low water supply outlook; warm, dry weather outlook are main reasons U.S. Drought Monitor National Weather Service Seattle, WA Drought intensity and Extent D1 (Moderate Drought): north and central Cascades, Olympic Mountains D0: (Abnormally Dry): much of the Olympic Peninsula, most of the rest of the Cascades and western foothills Image Caption: U.S. Drought Monitor valid 8am PDT December 14, 2023. Precipitation Last 30 days National Weather Service Seattle, WA 2 to 5 inches of rain have fallen over the lowlands in the last 30 days 3 to 10 inches of rain have fallen over the Cascades in the last 30 days Percent of normal was only 25-50% Summary of Impacts National Weather Service Seattle, WA Hydrologic Impacts Water content of the mountain snowpack is well below normal; snow drought conditions exist Agricultural Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Other Impacts Washington State Department of Ecology has expanded the Declared Drought Emergency to cover most of Washington State Excluded from the new drought declaration are limited areas in Seattle, Tacoma and Everett. Mitigation Actions Ecology is making funds available in drought response grants to qualifying public entities Individual use of water conservation habits Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts National Weather Service Seattle, WA Data as of April 19, 2024 Snowpack water equivalent was at 50% to 75% of normal NWRFC water supply forecasts for April through September were 60% to 85% of normal, with the majority of locations below 75% Figure Caption: NWRFC ESP Natural Forecast for Western Washington Figure Caption: NRCS SWE for Washington Long-Range Outlooks The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage National Weather Service Seattle, WA Odds lean toward above normal temperatures on average through the month of July Odds lean towards below normal precipitation on average through the month of July Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid May through July 2024 Drought Outlook National Weather Service Seattle, WA Drought expected to persist or worsen Image Caption: Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released April 18, 2024 valid for April 18, 2024 - July 31, 2024 The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage