Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid June 13, 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 remains in Western Kittitas, NW Yakima, SE Umatilla and most of Union and Wallowa counties with abnormally dry conditions over central Kittitas and Yakima, western Klickitat and Columbia counties, the Oregon Cascades, much of Umatilla, southeast Morrow, southeast Wallowa, eastern Wheeler, northeast Crook and Grant counties in Oregon Less than 50% of normal precipitation in nearly all areas during the last 30 days, as well as for the last 120 days, except for near to above normal precipitation (100%-200%) in portions of the Lower Columbia Basin into parts of the Blue Mountain Foothills and OR Cascades Drought conditions are expected to persist in current areas and develop in the southern Blue Mountains, Grant county and the rest of Union and Wallowa counties while other areas remain drought free All areas forecast to have above normal significant fire potential July-September per the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D2 (Severe Drought): None D1 (Moderate Drought): Western Kittitas, NW Yakima, SE Umatilla and most of Union and Wallowa counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): Central Kittitas and Yakima, western Klickitat and Columbia counties in Washington Oregon Cascades, much of Umatilla and SE Morrow, SE Wallowa, eastern Wheeler, NE Crook and 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): Northern Wallowa county in Oregon Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): None Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Central Yakima, eastern Kittitas, most of Columbia, and southeast Walla Walla counties in Washington. In Oregon, most of Union and Wallowa, portions of Umatilla, Morrow and Wheeler, southern Grant and a small portion of eastern Crook counties in Oregon Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): None 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 Pockets of less than 5% of normal precipitation in eastern Kittitas, central Yakima and south central Klickitat counties, central Oregon and most of the eastern mountains Much below normal precipitation (25% to 50% of normal) in the most of the rest of the area Highest precipitation amounts were 3 to 5 inches over the central and northern Oregon WA Cascade crest, Generally less than 2 inches of precipitation elsewhere Less than 0.1 inch of precipitation in eastern Kittitas and southern Deschutes counties 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 and the OR Cascades over the last 120-days Below normal precipitation (25% to 75% of normal) in much of the rest of the area over the last 120-days Much below normal precipitation (0% to 25% of normal) in the southern Blue and Ochoco mountains, the John Day basin and portions of Wallowa county. Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Near to above normal temperatures (1 to 4 degrees above normal) in the Yakima Valley and Simcoe Highlands in Washington and for Oregon in pockets of the southern Blue Mountain Foothills, southern Blue and Ochoco mountains and the John Day Basin for the last 7 days Above normal temperatures (4 to 8 degrees above normal) in most other areas for the last 7 days, well above normal temperatures along the OR Cascades crest for the last 7 days Mostly near normal temperatures (1 below to 3 degrees above normal) for the the last 30 days except for above normal (3 to 6 degrees above normal) from southern Deschutes northeastward into southern Union county Greatest departures (4 to 6 degrees above normal) over the last 30 days were seen in central and southern Grant county 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 Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Lower Yakima, Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids, Lower Snake, Middle Columbia-Hood, Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula, North Fork John Day, Middle Fork John Day, Upper Grande Ronde, Lower Grande Ronde and Imnaha basins Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Yakima, Walla Walla and Umatilla 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 Cascades and eastern Oregon mountains, there are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts There are no known impacts at this time Fire Hazard Impacts Above normal significant wildland fire potential is present over much of the area. 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 June 12, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid June 12, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Yakima and Walla Walla basins Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Lower Yakima, Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids, Lower Snake, Middle Columbia-Hood and Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula 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 June 12, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid June 12, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Much below normal streamflow (lower than the 10th percentile) for the Walla Walla and Umatilla basins Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentile) for the Middle Columbia-Hood, Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula, North Fork John Day, Middle Fork John Day, Upper Grande Ronde, Lower Grande Ronde and Imnaha basins Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins except no data for the Silvies and Summer Lake basins 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 Impacts No known impacts at this time 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. Main Takeaways Below normal water supply (60% to 90% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast over most south central WA for the April - September 2025 period Much below normal water supply (30% to 50% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for the Upper Grande Ronde River and McKay Creek Near normal water supply (90% to 115% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast in the southern Blue Mountains and the John Day Basin for the April - September 2025 period Well above normal water supply (150% to 175% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for 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 June 8, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) Main Takeaways Above normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., a greater than normal risk) is forecast for all areas in June 2025, except near normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., very low risk) for the eastern mountains Above normal significant wildland fire potential is forecast for all areas July through September 2025 “While lightning ignition potential remains uncertain, overall temperature and precipitation outlooks indicate human ignition impacts will remain at or above 2024 levels. This results in all NWCC PSAs having above normal significant fire potential by August and continuing into September.” - National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Image Caption: Left - July 2025 Right - August 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued June 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December A trough will remain off shore through much of the next week with a series of moisture starved shortwaves crossing the area. This will lead a slight chance of mountain thunderstorms at times with light rain amounts. The higher mountains may get up to a tenth of an inch of rain The lower elevations will generally be dry Temperatures will be near to a few degrees above normal and winds will 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 A 50% to 80% chance of below normal temperatures across the entire area A 40% to 60% chance of above normal precipitation across the entire area Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid June 19 - 23, 2025 Main Takeaways A 40% to 50% chance of below normal temperatures across the entire area A 40% to 50% chance of above normal precipitation over the entire area Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid June 21 - 27, 2025 Main Takeaways Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Updated May 31, 2025 Main Takeaways for June 2025 A 40% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide A 33% to 50% chance of below normal precipitation area-wide 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 Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to persist in the central WA Cascades, the northern Blue Mountains and northern Wallowa County. Drought is expected to develop in the southern Blue Mountains, Grant county and the rest of Union and Wallowa counties 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 31, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released May 31, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook