Idaho drought

Because of lengthy drought conditions, USDA declared Bingham and Camas counties as primary natural disaster areas on Thursday.

Much of the Northwest is dealing with dry conditions to start 2026. And as USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey explains, it’s not just the Northwest starting the New Year dry.

December has been a wet month across much of the Northwest, and while much of that fell as rain rather than snow, any precipitation is welcome news, especially in northern Idaho.

The USDA released its final topsoil moisture report for the year last week, and it reflects late summer and early fall drought impacts.

From a weather perspective, 2025 was a difficult year for many Northwest wheat farmers, especially those growing a spring variety.

As to be expected as we move into November, drought conditions across the Northwest are starting to improve.

Despite struggles with dry soils and poorly timed rains, the 2025 Idaho wheat crop was a good one.

It’s dry across the Northwest, even for late September.

It should come as no surprise that pasture and rangelands continue to deteriorate across the U.S.

Very few changes were reported to soil moisture levels across the Pacific Northwest over the past week.