water supply

The USDA has awarded the University of Nevada, Reno a $5 million grant to lead a study on changing snowpack.  UNR scientists will conduct the five-year study with researchers at the Desert Research Institute, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University.  The study is inte...

After the drought of 2015, and a dry 2016, its welcomed news to hear Washington’s Water Supply is well ahead of normal for this time of year.  Scott Pattee with NRCS told the Washington Ag Network  it all started with an ample snowpack this winter.   “It go...

It’s hard to believe but just a few weeks ago we were all done with the cold and snow that winter had pummeled us with for a couple of months.   Washington State Climatologist Nick Bond said it was the sixth wettest on record and that, “We haven’t had a winter this cold since ’92-’93, December through February period. So it’s been a while since we’ve ...

Irrigators have received nothing but good news when it comes to water supply for the upcoming season.   Brent Bower with the National Weather Service said he’s seeing things he’s never seen.   “The water supply forecast for the main forecast points is at or above normal and some of them are quite high on the eastern edge of Washington, like in the Palouse at 142.”   Bower pointed to ...

Normal to above normal is the word for most Eastern Washington rivers and how they are looking currently, though there are some minor concerns about the Okanogan River.   Meteorologist Brent Bower with the National Weather Service said, “The outlook is also looking pretty good for keeping what we have. At least there...

Late last week, snowpack levels had dipped to levels that were concerning for Scott Pattee, Water Supply Specialist for NRCS.   “By golly that storm hit and it was really a godsend and really picked up a lot of snow in the Cascades but also pretty much everywhere in the state and brought us back up mostly in the green which is above 90 percent of normal.”   ...

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.  ...

The water supply outlook for the 2017 growing and harvest season is looking pretty good according to the most recent water supply availability committee meeting.   Assistant State Climatologist Karin Bumbacco said the Climate Predication Center has offered a forecast that could bring more hope to farmers.  ...

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, released their official forecast and it appears that La Nina is back as a part of the outlook.   Karin Bumbacco with the Washington State Office of the Climatologist said ocean water temperatures have cooled more than expected and atmospheric conditions changed to more likely mirror La Nina.  ...

The Climate Prediction Center announced last week that they do not expect a transition into a La Nina period this winter and instead are expecting more neutral patterns.   Assistant State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco said this will make forecasting a little more challenging, but she is expecting above normal temperature and normal to above normal precipitation.  ...