Water Year Off to Cooler and Wetter than Normal Start

The 2016-17 water year, which began in October has been cooler and wetter than normal, which should be a relief to the ag community.

State Assistant Climatologist Karin Bumbacco said much of it can be blamed on a record wet October, and a very cold December and January.

“Most of Eastern Washington was between six and eight degrees Fahrenheit below normal, so that’s a pretty substantial monthly anomaly there. It was our coldest January since 1993.”

And if you combine the two months, it was the coldest two month December and January period since 1984-85.

Bumbacco said the cold slowed the precipitation in January, but it picked up in February.

“When you average over the state, it was wetter than normal about 3.19 inches above that 1981-2010 normal period for the state, so overall we’re looking in pretty good shape.”

Current forecasts indicate that there is a slight possibility of a weak to moderate El Nino this summer, but most indications are for a more neutral pattern and at least average water supply for the growing season.

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