Drought Continues To Spread Across Oregon

Drought conditions continue to spread in Oregon.  As we told you last week, the Severe Drought designation now accounts for 20% of the state, stretching from Central Oregon to the state’s northeast corner.

"In that swath particularly, there’s a combination of factors," said Jason Ward with NRCS.  "So, below normal precip for the current month of March - I think in northwest Oregon, we’re at or above normal; but for the rest of the state, Central Oregon and down into southern Oregon, we were below normal for precipitation."

Ward  added at 16% of normal, the current snowpack is below the previous record low set in 2015.  So far, four counties have asked for state drought declarations.

"As we see the drought monitor continue to be updated for those combination of factors, we’ll see more developments, particularly in southern Oregon, as things progress, if we don’t see a change in the precip patterns there," Ward said.

He added the statewide, water-year-to-date precipitation is 87% of normal.

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