Matt Warbritton

Like other programs under the USDA’s umbrella, NRCS has undergone budget cuts because of the Trump Administration’s effort to trim federal spending.  Matt Warbritton with NRCS said those cuts have translated into the termination of three staff members, leaving five full time positions to cover Washington, Oregon and northern California.   “Across that...

Typically, here in the Northwest, the snowpack’s high-water mark is April 1st, meaning the region has only a few more weeks, or perhaps months on the snow season.  When it comes to the Oregon, Matt Warbritton with NRCS says the statewide snowpack is pretty robust right now.   “...

Matt Warbritton with NRCS said the Washington snowpack is not encouraging for this time of year.  He noted that many basins, most of which are in the Cascades are in deficit just a month before the typical apex of snow season.  He added one of the regions that’s of greatest concern is central Washington.  He noted the Upper and ...

Unlike its neighbors across the west, Oregon’s snowpack is in very good shape for this time of year.  Matt Warbritton with NRCS said there are several states across the west, such as Washington, experiencing a snow drought.  The Beaver State he noted is on the opposite end of that spectrum.   “And especially ...

For the higher elevations of Washington, the current snowpack is a bit of a disappointment.  Currently only four basins are at or above average for this time of year, the Lower Snake-Walla Walla, Lower Columbia, Klickitat, and the Lower Pend Oreille.   ...

The higher elevations of Oregon have received much needed snow this fall and winter, leading to very good snowpack numbers across the state.  Matt Warbritton with NRCS said right now, the statewide snowpack is 142% of normal.   “Snowpack is probably most notable across many parts of Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, where it's now well above normal. Snowpack in those r...

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...

The snowpack across the Northwest started with a bang thanks to two very large systems that rolled across the area in early to mid-November.  Since then, it’s been relatively quiet across the region, precipitation wise.   Matt Warbritton with NRCS says over the past month, Oregon has seen only a few winter storms that were much smaller.  While that could b...

Weather patterns have been on the relatively dry side across the Northwest as we start the month of December.  But that doesn’t mean snowpacks aren’t in good shape across the Evergreen state.   Matt Warbritton with NRCS said thanks to a very active November, in which an atmospheric river brought multiple wet systems to the region, "Overall snowpack across the state is maintaining at higher le

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 ...