Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumPNW - Central Cascades Snowpack Ranging From 8-45% Of Average, Olympic Peninsula @ 4%
EDIT
And yet on Friday, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee declared droughts on the Olympic Peninsula, which has three separate rainforests; as well as on the east side of the Central Cascade Mountains, Washington's answer to Central Valley agriculture; and in the Walla Walla region, the state's main wine country.
Because there's drought, and then there's drought. "What we're experiencing is essentially a snowpack drought," Maia Bellon, director of the state Department of Ecology, told reporters Friday. "As of this very moment, the projected snowpack is 4% of normal in the Olympic Mountains."
In the Central Cascades, snowpack is 8% to 45% of normal, and in the Walla Walla area, it's 67% of normal. The long-range forecast calls for drier, warmer weather, Bellon said, and "conditions are expected to get worse."
A statewide drought has not been declared in Washington since 2005, but the perilous snow levels mean other parts of the state are being monitored in case the emergency declaration must be broadened. To get ready for a long, hot summer, officials have requested $9 million in drought relief funds from the state Legislature and are prepared to make temporary changes to water rights so that crops and fish have an adequate water supply.
EDIT
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-washington-state-drought-20150314-story.html
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)will be white up there, but it isn't. Down low it is soggy, up high it is dry. Feb's average temp for my location next to the Olymics was 9 degrees warmer this yr than last yr (last yr was more typical). It is scary, will have a fair bit of impact here this summer.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Maybe more tomorrow.
uppityperson
(115,681 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)uppityperson
(115,681 posts)Which is good for the cherry tree and blueberries I planted this last week and it helps make sure I don't plant/sacrifice seed to the garden too early.
pscot
(21,024 posts)Could conditions become worse than they expect?
hatrack
(59,599 posts)Panich52
(5,829 posts)cilla4progress
(24,791 posts)Spooky, when considering the usually damp Olympics are also involved. Rainforests - wtf?!
Super glad to be getting rain here today.
Is this the "same" drought CA is having (e.g., same weather system)?