Drought Emergencies Declared In Six Additional Oregon Counties

On Thursday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared drought emergencies in Crook, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson, Morrow, and Wallowa counties.  With that designation, the Governor has directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to those impacted counties.

This marks the second drought declaration issued in 2026.  In total, nine of Oregon’s 36 counties are now under drought emergency status.

"Communities across the state are being confronted with unprecedented drought conditions," Kotek said. "My office and relevant state agencies are at the ready to assist affected communities address drought impacts and continue efforts to secure a stronger, more climate-resilient Oregon. The abnormally dry conditions we’re experiencing should serve as a stark reminder that wildfire season is around the corner, and Oregonians need to be ready." 

The Governor's office added forecasted snowpack, temperature, precipitation, and water supply conditions suggest that drought conditions in the counties are unlikely to improve in the near-term.

The Latest Designations Cover SW, Central, NE Oregon

Crook County 

As of April 7, 89% of Crook County is in moderate to severe drought. Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and water year-to-date (WYTD) indicators show drier-than-normal conditions, with below-normal precipitation across most of the county. 

Grant County 

As of April 7, 99% of Grant County is in moderate to severe drought. SPEI values over the last year and WYTD indicate drier-than-normal conditions for most of the county. Over the last year, precipitation conditions were below normal for most of the county. 

Jackson County 

As of April 7, 95% of Jackson County is in moderate to severe drought. SPEI values over various timescales indicate moderate drought conditions are present for most of the county. Over the last year, precipitation conditions have been below normal. 

Jefferson County 

As of April 7, 94% of Jefferson County is in severe drought, with the remainder of the county in moderate drought. SPEI values over various timescales indicate moderate to extreme drought conditions throughout the county. WYTD precipitation is just below normal (70-90%) and WYTD temperatures in Jefferson County are well above normal. These conditions have resulted in well below normal snowpack throughout the water year. 

Morrow County 

As of April 7, 80% of Morrow County is in moderate to severe drought. WYTD SPEI values generally indicate normal conditions for most of the county. SPEI values over the last year indicate drier-than-normal conditions for most of the county. Over the last year, precipitation conditions have been below normal for most of the county. 

Wallowa County 

As of April 7, all of Wallowa County is in moderate drought to severe drought. SPEI values over the last year indicate moderate to severe drought conditions are present for much of the county. WYTD SPEI values are more variable, ranging from drier-than-normal to wetter-than-normal conditions. Over the last year, precipitation has been below normal. 

This Winter Was One For the Books

According to NOAA, Oregon’s 2025–26 winter tied with 1934 as the warmest winter on record.  The unusually warm temperatures contributed to a record-low snowpack with likely impacts on natural resources, water supply, and wildfire risk across the state.

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