Western Washington's current winter drought may not last through the season
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.”
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/western-washingtons-current-winter-drought-may-not-last-through-the-season/