Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid September 12, 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. Extreme Drought continues in northwest Kittitas, far eastern Columbia and northeast Wallowa counties, Severe Drought continues in most of Yakima, Kittitas, Benton and Columbia counties, all of Franklin and Walla Walla, far western Klickitat, Most of Union, Wallowa, Umatilla counties and eastern Morrow counties while Moderate Drought remains in Southern Yakima and Benton, most of Klickitat, Wasco, Wheeler, Jefferson and Morrow, all of Sherman and Gilliam, northern Grant and southern Union and Wallowa counties. All other areas have Abnormally Dry conditions except normal conditions for very small portions of Deschutes, Crook and Grant counties Well below normal precipitation (0% to 50% of normal) in most of the area except (50% to 150% of normal) in the Simcoe Highlands, the southern Blue Mountains and portions of the WA and OR Columbia Basin over the last 120-days . 25%-200% of normal precipitation in the eastern Oregon mountains during the last 30 days. Drought is expected to persist over the eastern mountains and improve or end over the rest of the area September-December All areas forecast to have normal significant fire potential for September-December 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Northwest Kittitas, far eastern Columbia and northeast Wallowa counties D2 (Severe Drought): Most of Yakima, Kittitas, Benton and Columbia counties, all of Franklin and Walla Walla, far western Klickitat, Most of Union, Wallowa, Umatilla counties and eastern Morrow county D1 (Moderate Drought): Southern Yakima and Benton, most of Klickitat, Wasco, Wheeler, Jefferson and Morrow, all of Sherman and Gilliam, northern Grant and southern Union and Wallowa counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): All other areas not mentioned above except normal for very small portions of Deschutes, Crook and Grant counties 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): None Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Portions of Wasco, Gilliam, Jefferson, Deschutes and Grant counties, northern Crook, southern Morrow, Umatilla and Grant counties Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (2 Class Degradation): Much of Franklin, eastern Benton and Western Walla Walla counties Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): Much of Benton and Walla Walla counties, portions of Yakima, Klickitat, Columbia, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Much of Grant and Wheeler counties, portions of Jefferson, Deschutes and Union counties, northern Crook, southern Morrow, Umatilla and Union counties 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 Near to above normal (130-200%) eastern Kittitas, most of Jefferson, Wasco, Crook, Wheeler and Grant counties Below to much below normal precipitation (25% to 90% of normal) in portions of Yakima and Klickitat counties, the WA and OR Columbia Basin and Blue Mountain Foothills, the Blue Mountains and all of Union and Wallowa counties Highest precipitation amounts were 1 to 2 inches in the Washington Cascades, most of Crook, eastern Deschutes and Jefferson counties, southwest Wheeler and portions of Grant county Generally less than 1 inch of precipitation elsewhere and mainly less than 0.5 inches in WA Less than 0.1 inch of precipitation in northeast Yakima and western Klickitat 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 Well below normal precipitation (0% to 50% of normal) in most of the area over the last 120-days Below to near normal precipitation (50% to 150% of normal) in the Simcoe Highlands, the southern Blue Mountains and portions of the WA and OR Columbia Basin Western areas had precipitation amounts of 1-3 inches in the Cascades and mainly less than 1 inch in the lower elevations and eastern areas had mainly 1-6 inches over the last 120-days Wettest location was 6-12 inches in the Elkhorn Mountains over the last 120-days Driest locations were less than 1 inch in most western lower elevation areas over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Below normal temperatures (1 to 6 degrees below normal) over the area for the last 7 days Well below normal (6 or more degrees below normal) in portions of Yakima and Klickitat counties for the last 7 days Near normal temperatures (1 above to 1 degree below normal) in Franklin and parts of Benton and Walla Walla counties Near to below normal temperatures (-1 to 4 degrees below normal) for most locations for the last 30 days Well below normal temperatures (4 to 6 degrees below normal) in southwest Kittitas, western Yakima and central Klickitat counties for the last 30 days 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 Record low streamflows for the Upper Yakima and Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids basins Much below normal streamflows (< 10th percentile) for the Upper Columbia-Entiat, Lower Yakima and Lower Grande Ronde basins Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Naches, Middle Columbia-Hood and Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) for the North Fork John Day and basin Normal streamflow (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins Fire Hazard Impacts Normal significant wildland fire potential is present over the entire area from September through December. Other Impacts Washington: Washington Drought Declaration issued for Upper Yakima, Lower Yakima and Naches Watersheds Oregon: Drought Declarations in effect for Morrow, Wheeler and Union Counties 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 September 11, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid September 11, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Record low streamflows for the Upper Yakima and Upper Columbia-Priest Rapids basins Much below normal streamflow (below the 10th percentile) for the Upper Columbia-Entiat, Lower Yakima and Lower Grande Ronde basins Below normal streamflows (10th-24th percentiles) for the Naches, Middle Columbia-Hood and Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula basins Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentiles) for Klickitat, Lower Snake, Lower Snake-Tucannon, Walla Walla, Lower Snake-Asotin and Palouse basins 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 September 11, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid September 11, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Well below normal streamflows (less than 10th percentile) for the Lower Grande Ronde basin Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentile) for the Middle Columbia-Hood and Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) for the North Fork John Day 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 to near normal water supply (50% to 95% 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 45% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for the Upper Grande Ronde River and McKay Creek Below to near normal water supply (60% to 105% 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 170% 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 September 12, 2025 Forecast (% of Normal) Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast. Water Supply Forecast - April - September 2025 Forecast (% of normal) Main Takeaways Normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., a greater than normal risk) is forecast for all areas in for September through December 2025 Image Caption: Left - October 2025 Right - November 2025 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued September 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December A trough Sunday/Monday and possibly another Wednesday/Thursday will bring showers to the entire area The higher mountains of eastern Oregon are expected receive 0.5 to 1.25 inches of rain Washington, north central Oregon and the Oregon Columbia basin will generally receive a tenth of an inch or less Temperatures are expected to be near to below normal Breezy winds expected on Sunday 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 40% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures across the entire area A 33% to 50% chance of below 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 September 17-21, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways A 50% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures across the entire area Equal chances of above, near or below normal precipitation across the entire area Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid September 19 - 25, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Precipitation Outlook. Updated August 31, 2025 Main Takeaways for September 2025 Equal chances of above, near and below normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of below, near and above normal precipitation in most area except 33% to 40% chance of above normal precipitation over and near the Cascades 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 September-November 2025 Main Takeaways for August-October 2025 A 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures area-wide Equal chances of above, below and near normal precipitation area-wide except a 33% to 400% chance of above normal precipitation over and near the Cascades Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Outlook. Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to persist in most of the area during September Drought is expected to persist over the eastern mountains and either improve or end over much of the rest of the area September through November Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and reservoir levels in the Upper Yakima basin has resulted in a reduction to 45%-50% 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 August 31, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released August 31, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook