According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 100 percent of the state is in some category of drought.
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After a dry span of days over the recent weekend, the northwest has moved back into a stormy pattern.
So far this January, PDX has seen well-below normal totals with a current rain deficit of 1.74 inches this far into the month.
The current status of snow pack is low for the western portion of the Cascade Mountains with snow water equivalent levels at 58 percent of normal.
It’s our frozen reservoir of water that people and wildlife depend on to sustain streams throughout the spring and summer,” said NRCS snow hydrologist Julie Koeberle.
“If it had not been for mid-February return of winter, the state would have been approaching 2015 snow levels.” said Koeberle.
The effects of drought after two years of below normal snowpack and consistent statewide drought could be mean trouble heading into the year.
It’s very likely that the month of January will finish off with above normal highs and below normal rain totals – a grim forecast for the current state of drought in Oregon.
Winter is still in motion with plenty of snow pack producing months ahead.