The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has released its June Water Supply Outlook Report, which predicts water shortages across much of Oregon this summer.
Most snow monitoring sites melted out 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal.
Snow at several of these locations melted out at rates that were up to twice as fast as usual for snowmelt in May.
Many of Oregon’s major irrigation reservoirs are storing near average amounts of water as of the end of May, but several have begun to dip below average.
The Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Willow basins are storing the most water with capacity at 95-111 percent of average.
Elsewhere, most of the state’s major reservoirs range from 70-110 percent of average.
Drought intensifies NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for a warmer and drier than normal summer and the Drought Monitor recently added a severe drought designation for parts of central and southeastern Oregon.
Wildfire danger Fire officials along the Oregon Coast and across the state are warning of intensive wildfire danger due to the dry conditions and less water.
North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District officials are urging beachgoers to be extremely careful with warming fires and make sure they are dead out before leaving the beach.
Each spring and summer NLFR crews are called to Lincoln City beaches to put out wildfires that officials say are human-caused.