Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid May 16, 2025 Issued By: NWS Pendleton Contact Information: pdt.operations@noaa.gov This product will be updated if drought conditions change significantly. Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/pdt/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/ for regional drought status updates. Moderate Drought remain in portions of western Kittitas and Yakima counties with abnormally dry conditions over the lower slopes of the Washington Cascades and the eastern Oregon Mountains Much below normal precipitation (< 50%) in nearly all areas during the last 30 days as well as during the last 120 days in all areas except for near to above normal precipitation (100%-200%) in the OR and WA Columbia Basin, the Blue Mountain Foothills, OR Cascades and portions of central OR Very little of the winter snowpack remains below 5,000 feet in the mountains and what is left is melting rapidly Drought conditions are expected to persist in the central WA Cascades through the end of August while other areas remain drought free 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): None D1 (Moderate Drought): Western Kittitas and northwest Yakima counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): Central Kittitas, west central Yakima, northwest Klickitat and southeast Columbia counties in Washington Union, southeastern Umatilla and Morrow, most of Wallowa, eastern Wheeler, northeast Crook and northern Grant counties in Oregon All other areas are in normal conditions U.S. Drought Monitor National Weather Service Pendleton, OR One-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Union, southeastern Umatilla and Morrow, most of Wallowa, eastern Wheeler, northeast Crook and northern Grant counties in Oregon Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): None Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Union, southeastern Umatilla and Morrow, most of Wallowa, eastern Wheeler, northeast Crook and northern Grant counties in Oregon Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Small portions of western Yakima and central Kittitas counties in Washington. Image Captions: Right - 4 Week Drought Class Change Left - 1 Week Drought Class Change Data Courtesy U.S. Drought Monitor and Drought.gov Recent Change in Drought Intensity Below normal precipitation (50% to 100% of normal) in parts of central Oregon Pockets of less than 5% of normal precipitation in eastern Kittitas, central Yakima and south central Klickitat counties Much below normal precipitation (5% to 50% of normal) in the rest of the area Highest precipitation amounts were 1 to 2 inches over the WA Cascade crest, eastern Wallowa county and a small pocket in the Ochoco Mountains Generally less than 1 inch of precipitation in Oregon Generally less than 0.5 inch of precipitation in Washington except up to an inch in the eastern Columbia Basin, northern Blue Mountains and Blue Mountain Foothills of WA Image Captions: Right - Precipitation Amount for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Data Courtesy Precipitation - Last 30 Days Image Captions: Right - Precipitation Amounts for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Courtesy of Drought.gov Near to above normal precipitation (100% to 200% of normal) in the OR and WA Columbia Basin, the Blue Mountain Foothills, OR Cascades and portions of central OR over the last 120-days Much below normal precipitation (0% to 50% of normal) in the rest of the area over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Near normal temperatures (1 degree below to 3 degrees above normal) in western portions of Washington and for Oregon in pockets of the Columbia Basin, southern Blue Mountain Foothills, north central Oregon and the John Day Basin for the last 7 days Above normal temperatures (3 to 6 degrees) in the eastern portions of Washington most portions of Oregon for the least 7 days Well above normal temperatures (6 to 8 degrees) in small pockets of the OR Cascades and eastern OR mountains for the last 7 days Mostly above normal temperatures (3 to 6 degrees) for the the last 30 days except slightly above normal (1 to 3 degrees) in much of Yakima county, and portions of the Blue Mountains Greatest departures (6 to 8 degrees above normal) over the last 30 days were seen in pockets of the central OR Cascades Image Captions: Right - Temperature for Pacific NW Left - Percent of Normal Precipitation for Pacific NW Courtesy of Drought.gov Temperature - Last 7 and 30 Days Hydrologic Impacts Most basins have near normal streamflow (26th-75th percentile) Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Yakima basin Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Lower Yakima, Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids, Palouse and Walla Walla basins Snowpack Impacts Snow telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring sites show little snow remaining below 5,000 feet in the mountains. Above that level, what snowpack remains is melting rapidly. Aside from continued drought in the central WA Cascade basins, there are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Fire Hazard Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Other Impacts Washington: Washington Drought Declaration issued for Upper Yakima, Lower Yakima and Naches Watersheds Oregon: No Drought Declarations are in effect as of this Drought Information Statement Mitigation actions Please refer to your municipality and/or water provider for mitigation information See/submit Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR) and view the Drought Impacts Reporter Summary of Impacts Image Captions: Right - USGS 7-day average streamflow station map valid May 15, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid May 15, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Yakima basin Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Lower Yakima, Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids, Palouse and Walla Walla basins All other basins have normal stream flows (25th-75th percentiles) Impacts No known impacts at this time Reduced streamflow may be detrimental to aquatic species and recreational activities. Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Washington Image Captions: Right - USGS 7-day average streamflow station map valid May 15, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid May 15, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Below normal streamflow (10th-24th percentile) for the Walla Walla basin Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins except no data for the Powder basin Impacts No known impacts at this time Reduced streamflow may be detrimental to aquatic species and recreational activities. Main Takeaways Little to no snow remains below 4500-5000 feet in the mountains Snowpacks are well above normal (125%-500%) in central OR, eastern mountain and OR Blue Mountain Foothill basins - basins with 500% of normal usually have little to no snow in mid April Near normal snowpack values (90%-110%) are seen across the northern Blue Mountain, Wallowa County and northern OR and southern WA Cascades basins Below normal snowpack value (72%) are seen in the Upper Yakima basin Impacts No known impacts at this time Snow water equivalent is related to the amount of water stored in snowpack. Snow can affect the amount of available water for spring and summer snow melt. This can have impacts on water storage, irrigation, fisheries, vegetation, municipal water supplies, and wildfire. Image Captions: Oregon and Washington SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent % of Normal Data Courtesy USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Daily Value as of April 14, 2025 Snowpack Conditions and Impacts Main Takeaways Below normal water supply (60% to 90% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast over most of the region for the April-September 2025 period Near normal water supply (85% to 110% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast across streams and rivers in the Columbia Gorge, the southern Blue Mountains and the John Day Basin for the April-September 2025 period Well above normal water supply (155% to 180% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast across the Ochoco-John Day Highlands for the April-September 2025 period Impacts No known impacts at this time Low reservoir levels would be expected to affect agriculture production, fish, and other aquatic species. Image Caption: Ensemble Streamflow Prediction Natural Forecast Data Courtesy NOAA NWS Northwest River Forecast Center Issued May 16, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) Main Takeaways Normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., very low risk) for all areas through May 2025 Above normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., a greater than normal risk) for the WA Cascades and Columbia Basin and near normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., very low risk) for all other areas in June 2025 Above normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., a greater than normal risk) for all areas in July and August 2025 Significant wildland fires are expected at typical times (e.g., warm season) and intervals during normal significant wildland fire potential conditions Image Caption: Left - June 2025 Right - July 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued May 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December A series of weather disturbances through much of the upcoming week, especially this weekend, will lead above normal rain amounts The higher mountains may get up to an inch of rain The lower elevations will generally get up to a tenth to a quarter of an inch Temperatures will be near to a few degrees below normal and winds will continue to be breezy to windy most days Visit weather.gov/Pendleton for the latest weather forecast Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Main Takeaways Leaning towards below normal temperatures (33% to 40%) in the WA Cascades with equal chances of above, below and near normal temperatures elsewhere Leaning towards below normal precipitation (33% to 40%) in central OR and the eastern OR mountains with equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation elsewhere Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid May 22 - 26, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways Equal chances of below, above and near normal temperatures in the western half of the area and a 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures in the eastern half of the area A 33% to 40% chance of below normal precipitation over the area except for equal chances of below, above and near normal precipitation in southeastern Union and Wallowa counties Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid May 24 - 30, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Main Takeaways for June 2025 A 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide A 33% to 40% chance of below normal precipitation in most areas except a 40% to 50% chance of below normal precipitation in eastern Wallowa county and equal chances of below, above or near normal precipitation in the WA Cascades and in the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys Climate Prediction Center Monthly Outlook. Monthly Climate Outlook Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Valid June-August 2025 Main Takeaways for June-July-August 2025 A 40% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide A 40% to 50% chance of below normal precipitation area-wide Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Outlook. Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to persist in the central WA Cascades through August while all other areas will remain drought free Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and reservoir levels in the Upper Yakima basins may persist and this could result in possible reduction in agricultural yield, crop loss, and poor pasture conditions where irrigation water is not available. Image Captions: Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Released May 15, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released May 15, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook