Northwest & Nation Very Dry To Start March

It’s not just the Northwest starting the year very dry.  The latest numbers from the U.S. Drought Monitor show very little rain or snow fell nationwide in February.

“Drought coverage was 54.9%, and that reflects a nearly 12 percentage point increase during the previous five weeks from 43 to 54.9%,” said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  He when on to say that drought number approaching 55% in early March perhaps needs a little bit of context.

“The last two weeks represent the first time since November 2024, more than a year ago, that we have seen U.S. drought coverage greater than 50%" Rippey added.  " And this week's number, 54.9%, that is the greatest U.S. drought coverage, looking at the lower 48 states, since all the way back in December of 2022.  More than three years ago, the drought coverage at that time, on December 6, 2022 was 55.5%.” 

When taking a look at soil moisture numbers across the Northwest: 

• 75% of Washington is abnormally dry for this time of year, with 25% of the state already under a D1 or Moderate Drought designation
• 93% of Idaho is abnormally dry, with some portions of the state already under Severe and Extreme Drought designations
• Oregon is faring the best of the three states, with over 31% of the state on par for where it should be this time of year. 

Rippey noted right now, half of the U.S. is under a D3, Exceptional, or D4, Extreme, Drought Designation 

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