La Nina

Washington is in the final weeks of the snow season, and the 2024-2025 season has been a bit of a disappointment when it comes to the snowpack.  As of Monday, the statewide snowpack was sitting at 86% of average.  Matt Warbritton with NRCS noted in some regions of the state continue to see persistent and pervasive snowpack deficits.   “Notably i...

The past 12-18 months have been very good for the livestock industry across both the Northwest and the country.  Will the trend continue this year?   Many experts say yes.  Jackie Madill, Executive Director of the Washington State Beef Commission said La Nina will help address grazing needs   “Going into a more mild, and wetter weather system always helps here in the Pacific Northwest, so I'm exci

The snowpack across Idaho has been a bit of a rollercoaster this year.  Erin Whorton with NRCS said the state saw really good snow accumulation in November and then again around the holidays, but since then things have been fairly quiet.  When it...

One year after the official watch was announced.   “During December, we finally saw the ocean reaching the threshold for La Nina in terms of cool water and we started to see the atmosphere respond to that," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "When th...

The great start the Washington snowpack enjoyed back in November and early December has somewhat waned, thanks to a quiet and uneventful December.  Latest snowpack numbers for much of the Evergreen State are still above normal, but not by the measure we saw a month or two ago.  Right n...

Drought conditions across Oregon and Washington continue to improve, thanks to rain and snow over the last few weeks.  But Climatologist Zach Hoylman said not all areas are created equal.   “Snowpack is showing encouraging accumulation, so far, in the west, and a slower start in the east.  However, it’s very...

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While much of the snowpack across Idaho is looking good, there is reason for concern.  Erin Whorton, NRCS Idaho, said many of the basins have already reported strong snowpack numbers, with some regions 100%, 140%, even 200% for this time of year.  Unfortu...

Much like Washington, the early season snowpack across Oregon is reason for optimism and encouragement.  Some are crediting La Nina for the cooler, wetter weather.  But Matt Warbritton with NRCS said that may be premature.   “We can’t ...

We’ve already seen measurable snow in the higher elevations of the Northwest, and forecasters believe this is just the beginning.  The Pacific Northwest is in the midst of a meteorological transition, moving from dry to wet.  The area has been under an El Nino weather pattern for more than a year, but Charlotte Dewey, with the National Weather Service, says that’s changing.   “Right now, we’re at