EVERETT — Even with last week’s snow flurries, there’s no denying this winter has been unusually sunny. The lack of lowland rain has also translated into abysmal snowpack levels in the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range, worsening existing drought conditions.
Although experts say it’s too soon to tell if later winter weather will add needed snow, they are keeping a close eye on temperature and precipitation models.
Last April, Washington’s Department of Ecology and former Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought, extending the previous year’s drought emergency that covered 12 watersheds across the state.
“As our climate continues to change, we’re increasingly seeing our winters bring more rain and less snow,” Inslee said in 2023 about the declaration. “We depend on that winter snowpack to meet the needs of Washington’s farmers, fish, and communities during the dry summer months.”
In the state of Washington, an area is considered to be in a drought when the water supply for that geographic area, or for a significant portion of that geographic area, is below 75% of normal, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.
This year, three snow monitoring stations in the Olympic Mountains and eight stations in the northern Washington Cascade Range recorded the lowest January precipitation levels since records began in 1981, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.
In the north Puget Sound region, Beaver Pass is at 80% median snowpack levels while Rainy Pass is only at 58%.
Even though current numbers reflect drought conditions, Clifford Mass, a University of Washington professor of atmospheric and climate sciences, said it’s too early to tell if levels will stick through the season.
“I think bottom line, it’s too early to tell. I’ve been through this year after year, and in early to mid-February, you really don’t know where you’re going to be later in the spring, in the summer,” he said, adding that just because it’s been drier than normal so far doesn’t mean the region will end winter in a drought.
Caroline Mellor, water resources statewide drought lead for Ecology, agrees with Mass that it’s too soon to tell if the meager snowpack in the mountains so far won’t increase in the next few months.
“However, the current snowpack levels is concerning at some sites in the Cascades, especially with our dry January,” Mellor wrote in an email. “We are closely watching precipitation and temperature in coming months. Temperature is important as snowpack services as natural storage.”
Ecology’s 2024 drought declaration is still in effect until April 15, at which point the department will decide if it’s necessary to extend the declaration. An extension would keep drought emergency response grants available to water users impacted by drought conditions.
Irrigators concerned about summer water supply should begin thinking about efficiency improvements and conservation planning, Mellor said.
Ecology also runs a blog providing monthly water supply updates for the public.
Eliza Aronson: 425-339-3434; eliza.aronson@heraldnet.com; X: @ElizaAronson.
Eliza’s stories are supported by the Herald’s Environmental and Climate Reporting Fund.
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