Snowpack Below Normal, but Concerns Low

Despite a snow-heavy December, snowpack levels on the eastern side of Washington remain below normal.

NRCS Water Supply Specialist Scott Pattee said most of Central and Eastern Washington are at best 95 percent of normal, but not many are too far below that.

“It just hasn’t come over the Cascade Crest and got into the Central Cascades there. But I’m not at all concerned about it. Those aren’t bad numbers and January can be a big snow accumulation month.”

La Nina has been pretty weak this month with the precipitation levels high, but the warm temperatures not arriving which has meant the heavier snowfall in the lowlands.

Pattee said the rest of the winter still looks pretty good, but it might look better if La Nina and the threat of the warmer temps moved out of the Northwest.

“Forecasts are saying that with this storm system coming, it should just keep pulsing on shore and keep bringing us good snow as we long we keep the temperatures down like we have been.”

The first official water supply forecast will be released in early January.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.