Weather

The maple tree sap started flowing a couple of weeks early this year in eastern Canada and that’s not really a good thing.  Stretches of mild weather in January and in February is expected to produce smaller volumes of processed syrup, along with a less than perfect product.  Extended...

The past two years have been challenging for potato growers across the Pacific Northwest.  Last year, the growing and planting season was delayed thanks to a late spring snow storm that dumped several inches of snow in several locations.  An...

After a month of several winter storms, the Oregon snowpack is much improved from January.  Matt Warbritton, with NRC Oregon, says most basins across the state are near or above average for this time of year.  Some of the best performing basins right now are found in the southeast portion of the state, including:  The Lake County-Goose Lake at 124% of normal  The Owyhee Basin at 118% of average T

Central Oregon’s Crook County remains the only place in the western United States under a D-4, or Exceptional Drought, designation.  And again, county leaders have asked for a state drought declaration.  County Judge Seth Crawford says he’s also talked with the Governor about funding a biomass plant that would use juniper trees to create power, but more studies are needed.   “Then we can go to dif

Four western senators introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the region.  The Wildfire Emergency Act, introduced by Oregon’s Ron Wyden, California senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla as well as Montana’s Steve Daines would allow the Forest Service to leverage private financing to accelerate forest restoration projects and create a program

The Washington snowpack is looking good for this time of year.   But good is not great.   Scott Pattee with NRCS Washington said December was a bit of a letdown after such as strong start to the snow year in November.   “Quite a bit less than it was last month.  But surprisingly, ...

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Drought monitor, only 9% of Oregon is where it should be for soil moisture numbers for this time of year.  And of that 91% that’s dry, the driest conditions are found in the central part of the state, with a large portion of Crook County under a Exceptional Drought designation.  While snowpac...

While our calendars are prepared to roll over to a brand-new year in the coming weeks, we’re in the heart of the current water year, which started back on October 1st.  The past couple of water years have been dry across the Pacific Northwest, so these November rain and December snow showers have been welcomed relief.  But, Terrell ...

With winter weather here across much of the Pacific Northwest, now is a good time to prevent storm damage by trimming branches hanging over your roof, fence, driveway, barn or sheds.  Jason Horton, with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, said it’s also time to make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage.   “If yo...

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there was considerable improvement in the U.S. drought monitor during the month of November.  He noted between November 1st and the end of the month, drought coverage dropped 5.3 percentage points to 57% of the country being categorized as dry our drought.   “...