Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid July 11, 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. Severe Drought has developed in Western Kittitas, northwest Yakima, Wallowa, northern Union, eastern Umatilla and southeast Columbia counties while moderate Drought remains in eastern Kittitas, portions of Yakima, central Columbia, southeast Walla Walla, central and southern Umatilla, southern Union, southeast Morrow, southeast Wheeler, northeast Crook counties and all of Grant county. All other areas have abnormally dry conditions Less than 50% of normal precipitation in most areas during the last 30 days and last 120 days, except for near to above normal precipitation (100%-200%) for the last 120 days in portions of the Lower Columbia Basin and the Blue Mountain Foothills Drought conditions are expected to persist in current areas and develop in the rest of the area during July to September 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): Western Kittitas, northwest Yakima, Wallowa, northern Union, eastern Umatilla and southeast Columbia counties D1 (Moderate Drought): Eastern Kittitas, portions of Yakima, central Columbia, southeast Walla Walla, central and southern Umatilla, southern Union, southeast Morrow, southeast Wheeler, northeast Crook counties and all of Grant county D0: (Abnormally Dry): All other areas not mentioned above U.S. Drought Monitor 4-week change map for the Pacific Northwest National Weather Service Pendleton, OR One-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Southeast Wallowa and far southeast Grant counties in Oregon. northwest Yakima, central Kittitas, eastern Benton, western Walla Walla and all of Franklin county in Washington Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): None Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (2 Class Degradation): Small portions of Kittitas, Columbia and Walla Walla counties in Washington and eastern Wallowa, and small portions of Umatilla, Crook and Wheeler in Oregon Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Most other areas in Oregon and Washington 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 Less than 5% of normal in the WA and OR Columbia Basin with a small pocket of less than 5% of normal precipitation in north central OR Much below normal precipitation (5% to 50% of normal) in the most of the rest of the area except near to above normal (50-90%) in most of Deschutes, Crook and Grant counties, southeast Union and southeast Wallowa counties Highest precipitation amounts were 2 to 3 inches in southeast Union and southeast Wallowa counties and in a small pocket of northern Grant county Generally less than 1 inch of precipitation elsewhere Less than 0.1 inch of precipitation in the WA and OR Columbia Basin and in a small pocket of northern Jefferson and southern Wasco 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 150% of normal) in the OR and WA Columbia Basin, portions of the Blue Mountain Foothills and the OR Cascades over the last 120-days Well below normal precipitation (0% to 50% of normal) in much of the rest of the area over the last 120-days Most areas had precipitation amounts of 1-6 inches over the last 120-days Wettest location was 6-12 inches in the northern Blue Mountains over the last 120-days Driest locations were less than 1 inch in portions of Kittitas, Yakima, Wheeler, Crook and Grant counties over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Near to above normal temperatures (-1 to 3 degrees above normal) in most of the area for the last 7 days Above normal temperatures (3 to 6 degrees above normal) in the OR and central WA Cascades, central OR, the eastern half of the WA Columbia Basin and WA Blue Mountain Foothills and the Blue, Elkhorn and Wallowa mountains for the last 7 days Mostly above normal temperatures (3 to 6 degrees above normal) for the last 30 days Greatest departures (6 to 8 degrees above normal) over the last 30 days were seen in much of Union 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 Much below normal streamflows (< 10th percentile) for the Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids and Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids basins Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Middle Columbia-Hood, Lower Deschutes, Walla Walla, Lower Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Upper Grande Ronde, North Fork John Day and Middle Fork John Day basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) for the Willow basin Normal streamflow (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins Snowpack Impacts Snow telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring sites show no snow remaining in the mountains. Aside from the widespread and worsening drought in much of the area, there are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts Agricultural interests in the Yakima area are expected to receive 45% of normal water allotments this summer. For other areas, impacts are unknown at this time Fire Hazard Impacts Above normal significant wildland fire potential is present over the entire 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 July 10, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid July 10, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Columbia-Entiat and Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids basins Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Naches, Lower Yakima, Klickitat, Lower Snake, Walla Walla, Palouse, Lower Snake-Tucannon, Lower Snake-Asotin and Lower Grande Ronde basins The Upper Yakima and Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula 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 July 10, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid July 10, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentile) for the Middle Columbia-Hood, Lower Deschutes, Walla Walla, Lower Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Upper Grande Ronde, North Fork John Day and Middle Fork John Day basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) for the Willow basin 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 Below normal water supply (65% to 85% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast over most south central and southeast 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 Below to near normal water supply (60% to 95% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for most Oregon rivers and streams for the April - September 2025 period Well above normal water supply (145% 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 July 11, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast. Water Supply Forecast - April - September 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 August and September 2025 Above normal significant wildland fire potential is forecast for all areas in October 2025 except normal in the eastern Oregon mountains “Low confidence continues regarding the number of lightning ignitions this period. Confidence remains moderately high regarding temperature and precipitation outlooks. This leads to a belief that the ratio of human to natural ignitions will remain high and at or above 2024 levels. All PSAs are now expected to have above normal significant fire potential through September.” - National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook Image Caption: Left - August 2025 Right - September 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued July 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December Ridging punctuated by a couple of moisture starved shortwaves crossing the area will lead to quiet and dry weather with a heatwave this weekend. The entire area is expected to be dry Temperatures will be mainly near normal aside from this weekend and winds will be generally breezy most afternoons 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 33% to 50% chance of above normal temperatures across the entire area A 33% to 40% chance of above normal precipitation in Washington and far northeast Oregon and equal chances of above, near and below normal across the rest of the area Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid July 17 - 21, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways A 40% to 50% chance of above normal temperatures across the entire area A 33% to 40% chance of below normal precipitation in Oregon and equal chances of above, near and below normal precipitation in Washington Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid July 19 - 25, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Main Takeaways for July 2025 A 40% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide A 33% to 40% chance of below normal precipitation in Washington and north and northeast Oregon Equal chances of below, near and above normal precipitation in the southern portion of the area 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 July-September 2025 Main Takeaways for July-August-September 2025 A 40% to 50% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide A 33% 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, the eastern Oregon Mountains Drought is expected to develop in the rest of the area July through September Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and reservoir levels in the Upper Yakima basin has resulted in a reduction to 45% of normal irrigation amounts which may result in a possible reduction of agricultural yield, crop loss, and poor pasture conditions where irrigation water is not available. Image Captions: Right - Climate Prediction Center Monthly Drought Outlook Released June 30, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released June 30, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook