Oregon Snowpack Shows Slight Improvement With Storms On The Way

The Oregon snowpack has struggled this winter, but recent systems have given NRCS reason for optimism.  As of Friday, the statewide snowpack was 72%, after the weekend storms, the snowpack was 80%.  Scott Oviatt with Oregon’s NRCS said the Northeast corner continues to build on a soil year.

“They are very much near normal, both in terms of snow water equivalent, and in terms of water year precipitation.  And that bodes well for that region as well, because last year, if you recall, we were very near normal and we had a delayed runoff due to cooler spring temperatures.”

However, has you move west, the snowpacks drop in state’s basins:

• Upper Deschutes, Crooked – 79% of average
• Hood, Sandy, Lower Descutes – 57Q% of average
• Willamettte – 66% of average
• Rogue, Umpqua – 74% of average
• Klamatah – 81% of average

Oviatt said while the additional snow is great, and the additional storms are encouraging, he said it’s too early to celebrate at this point.

"We’re still early in the season, and let’s continue to hope we see this trend for the next 6-10 weeks.  If we can, we might be able to come out with a respectable snowpack for our spring runoff.”

The long-range forecast calls for below normal temperatures and normal precipitation for the remaining portion of February.

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