While Region Off To A Good Start, More Is Needed This Water Year

While our calendars are prepared to roll over to a brand-new year in the coming weeks, we’re in the heart of the current water year, which started back on October 1st.  The past couple of water years have been dry across the Pacific Northwest, so these November rain and December snow showers have been welcomed relief.  But, Terrell Sorensen with University of Idaho Extension in Power County said before you say the region is back to normal.

“You got to remember, in 2021-2022 if you got deficits on your precipitation and your snowpack, say you getting used to 15” of moisture a year and you only get maybe 10”, somewhere there, if you're going to get back to normal, you got to make that up.  That's the big problem I see is not only we got to be normal we got to be above just to make up our deficit.”

While a 3rd straight La Niña is forecast for the months ahead, Sorensen says he’s hopeful the pattern this go-around will be fairly weak.  Under La Niña, the western U.S. has seen dry and warm conditions over the past two winters.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com