Drought Information Statement for Eastern OR & South Central WA Valid November 21, 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 Columbia, eastern Franklin and Walla Walla, northern Wallowa, northern Union and far northeast Umatilla counties. Severe Drought continues in Kittitas, far western Klickitat, most of Yakima and Walla Walla, northwest Benton, central and northwest Franklin, central Union and Wallowa and eastern Umatilla counties while Moderate Drought continues in South central Yakima and southern and eastern Benton, portions of eastern and western Klickitat, most of Wasco and Morrow counties, the Cascades in Deschutes county, western Umatilla, northeast Wheeler, western Jefferson, northern Grant and southern Union and Wallowa counties. All other areas are Abnormally Dry except for normal conditions for eastern Deschutes and southern Crook and Grant counties Near to above normal precipitation (70% to 200% of normal) in Washington with well below to near normal precipitation (25% to 110% of normal) in Oregon Drought is expected to improve in northern areas, end in central areas and remain at No Drought over southern areas during October-December All areas forecast to have normal significant fire potential for November 2025 - February 2026 1 U.S. Drought Monitor Drought intensity and Extent D3 (Extreme Drought): Columbia, eastern Franklin and Walla Walla, northern Wallowa, northern Union and far northeast Umatilla counties D2 (Severe Drought): Kittitas, far western Klickitat, most of Yakima and Walla Walla, northwest Benton, central and northwest Franklin, central Union and Wallowa and eastern Umatilla counties D1 (Moderate Drought): South central Yakima and southern and eastern Benton, portions of eastern and western Klickitat, most of Wasco and Morrow counties, the Cascades in Deschutes county, western Umatilla, northeast Wheeler, western Jefferson, northern Grant and southern Union and Wallowa counties D0: (Abnormally Dry): All other areas not mentioned above except normal for eastern Deschutes and southern 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): Small area of northern Wallowa county Four-Week Drought Monitor Class Change Drought Worsened (1 Class Degradation): None Drought Improved (1 Class Improvement): Northwest Kittitas, much of Franklin, small portions of Benton and Walla Walla, northern Wallowa and the Cascade crest in southern Wasco county 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 (100-150%) in most of Washington except 150% to 200% in northeast Kittitas and northern Franklin counties and 70% to 100% of normal in central Klickitat, southern Columbia and most of Walla Walla county Below to much below normal precipitation (25% to 90% of normal) in most of Oregon portion of the area except 90% to 130% of normal in northern Sherman, Gilliam and Morrow counties Highest precipitation amounts were 2 to 5 inches along the Washington and Oregon Cascade crest Generally less than 2 inches of precipitation elsewhere and mainly less than 0.5 inches in eastern Yakima and Deschutes, western Crook, eastern Wheeler, northeast Umatilla and far western Benton 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 central and north central OR, the Ochoco and southern Blue mountains, southern Wallowa and eastern Yakima county over the last 120-days Normal to above normal precipitation (100% to 200% of normal) in the Simcoe Highlands, the WA and OR Columbia Basin and the northern Blue Mountains over the last 120-days Precipitation amounts of 1-6 inches in most areas over the last 120-days Wettest location was 6-12 inches over the WA Cascades crest over the last 120-days Driest locations received less than 1 inch in much of Crook and eastern Deschutes and Jefferson counties over the last 120-days Precipitation - 4-month (120-day) Precipitation Well above normal temperatures (6 or more degrees above normal) in most of Oregon except for the Columbia Basin for the last 7 days Above normal temperatures (1 to 6 degree above normal) in WA and the OR Columbia Basin for the last 7 days Near normal temperatures (1 below to 3 degree above normal) in the Columbia Basin, north central Oregon and much of Kittitas, Yakima and Klickitat counties for the last 30 days Above normal temperatures (3 to 6 degrees above normal) in central OR and the eastern OR mountains for the the last 30 days Below normal temperatures (1 below to 3 degrees below normal) in central Yakima and Kittitas counties for the 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 Much below normal streamflows (< 10th percentile) for the Lower Grande Ronde basin Below normal streamflows (10th-25th percentiles) for the Lower Snake-Tucannon, Lower Deschutes, Lower John Day, Willow and the Middle Fork John Day basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) in the Naches, Klickitat and the Upper Columbia-Entiat basins Normal streamflow (25th-75th percentile) for all other basins Snowpack Impacts Snow telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring sites currently have little to no snow present in the mountains. Aside from the widespread drought in much of the area, there are no known impacts at this time. Agricultural Impacts Due to historically low reservoir storage and streamflows, water deliveries to agricultural interests in the Yakima area have been halted as of October 6th, 2025. For other areas, impacts are unknown at this time Fire Hazard Impacts Normal significant wildland fire potential is present over the entire area from November 2025 through February 2026. Other Impacts Washington: Washington Drought Declaration issued for Upper Yakima, Lower Yakima and Naches Watersheds Oregon: Drought Declarations in effect for Morrow, Jefferson, 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 November 20, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid November 20, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Main Takeaways Below normal streamflows (10th-24th percentiles) for the Lower Grande Ronde, Lower Snake-Tucannon and Middle Columbia-Hood basins Above normal streamflows (76th-90th percentiles) in the Naches, Klickitat and the Upper Columbia-Entiat basins Near normal streamflows (25th-75th percentiles) for all other 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 November 20, 2025 Left - USGS 7-day average streamflow HUC map valid November 20, 2025 Data Courtesy USGS Water Watch Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts - Oregon Main Takeaways Well below normal streamflows (less than 10th percentile) for the Willow basin Below normal streamflows (10th-24th percentile) for the Lower Grande Ronde, Lower Deschutes, Lower John Day, Willow and the Middle Fork John Day 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 Below to near normal water supply (65% to 90% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast over most locations for the April - September 2026 period Below normal water supply (45% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for McKay Creek Above normal water supply (114% of the 1991-2020 normal) is forecast for Mill Creek These forecasts for 2026 are based on streamflow data from the new water year which started on October 1, 2025 Impacts No known impacts at this time Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast. Water Supply Forecast - April - September 2026 Forecast (% of normal) Main Takeaways Normal significant wildland fire potential (i.e., normal risk) is forecast for all areas in for November 2025 through February 2026 Image Caption: Left - December 2025 Right - January 2026 Data Courtesy National Interagency Coordination Center Issued November 1, 2025 Link to Wildfire Potential Outlooks from the National Interagency Coordination Center. Fire Hazard Impacts - September through December Ridging with a couple of weak passing shortwaves will lead to generally quiet weather with a few periods of light rain and higher mountain snow The Cascade crest is expected receive 1 to 2 inches of rain with similar amounts in the higher elevations of the eastern Oregon mountains The rest of the area will receive up to a half inch of rain precipitation though parts of Deschutes and Crook counties may remain dry. Temperatures are expected to be near normal becoming below normal next week Breezy conditions expected on Monday Visit weather.gov/Pendleton for the latest weather forecast Image Caption: Weather Prediction Center 7-day precipitation forecast Seven Day Precipitation Forecast Main Takeaways Near normal temperatures in the northern third of the area and a 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures across southern portions of the area A 33% to 40% chance of above normal precipitation across the area except for near normal precipitation along the Cascades. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid November 24-28, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 6 to 10 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 6-10 Day Outlook Main Takeaways Near normal precipitation across the entire area A 33% to 50% chance of above normal temperatures across the area except for near normal temperatures in southern Deschutes county. Image Captions: Left - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook. Right - Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook. Valid November 26 - December 2, 2025 Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 day Temperature Outlook and Precipitation Outlook. 8-14 Day Outlook Main Takeaways for November 2025 Near normal temperatures across most of the area except for a 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures in northern Kittitas county A 33% to 50% chance of above normal precipitation across the entire area except for near normal precipitation for southwest Wasco, western Jefferson and the western portions of Deschutes county. 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 November 2025 - January 2026 Main Takeaways for October-December 2025 Equal chances of above, below and near normal temperature over most of the area except for a 33% to 40% chance of above normal temperatures over the southern third of the area A 40% to 50% chance of above normal precipitation across the entire area Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Outlook. Seasonal Climate Outlook Main Takeaways Drought is expected to generally improve or end over the northern portions of the area and remain in No Drought in southern regions and parts of central portions of the area during November Drought is expected to generally improve or end over the northern portions of the area and remain in No Drought in southern regions and parts of central portions of the area during November 2025 through January 2026 Possible Impacts Reduced streamflows and extremely low reservoir levels in the Upper Yakima basin has resulted in a halt of irrigation water for agricultural interests 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 October 31, 2025 Left - Climate Prediction Center Seasonal Drought Outlook Released October 31, 2025 The latest drought outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage. Drought Outlook