Reservoir Storage Mixed Across the Northwest

With the end of the most intense portion of the irrigation season with in sight here in the Northwest, how is water storage fairing as we prepared to head into fall?  USDA meteorologist Brad Rippy said when it comes to the 11 Western states they watch, nine of those states either close to normal or above normal storage.

“The two exceptions and we've been talking about these two states for many, many months, if not years. New Mexico and Washington state. Areas where storage has dipped a little bit this summer due to heat and dryness and obviously irrigation demands. We're just a little bit below average for what you would expect this time of year.”

Rippey added a few states, including Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, had some pretty hot weather at times this summer, and some shortages on precipitation.  But, he pointed out, those three aren’t not too far behind where they should be this time of year.

“Then states that are doing quite well with above average storage. There's six Western states that fall into that category and includes Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and California.”

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