Oregon snowpack hits record low

Oregon’s mountain snowpack fell to a record low this spring after the state tied its warmest winter on record. (nrcs.usda.gov) (kgw.com) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service said statewide snow water equivalent on April 1 was 15% of the 1991-2020 median. The agency said that set a new low for the SNOTEL record and for Oregon snow-course data going back 98 years, below 1977 and 2015. (nrcs.usda.gov) (koin.com) By April 28, several eastern Oregon basins had already melted out to 0% of median snow water equivalent, including the Owyhee and Malheur basins. The Grande Ronde-Powder-Burnt-Imnaha basin was at 31%, and the Umatilla-Walla Walla-Willow basin was at 24%, according to the daily SNOTEL update. (wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov) Snowpack is Oregon’s mountain water storage. It builds through winter, then melts into streams, reservoirs and irrigation systems through spring and summer. (nrcs.usda.gov) (weather.gov) This year, Oregon got enough precipitation in some places, but too much of it fell as rain instead of snow because temperatures stayed unusually high. Governor Tina Kotek’s office, citing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said the 2025-26 winter tied 1934 as Oregon’s warmest on record. (kgw.com) (axios.com) The state’s drought map was already flashing warnings before summer. As of data valid April 21, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 70% of Oregon in drought and 96% of the state at least abnormally dry. (droughtmonitor.unl.edu) (statesmanjournal.com) Kotek declared drought emergencies on April 23 in Crook, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson, Morrow and Wallowa counties. Baker, Deschutes and Umatilla counties had already received declarations earlier in 2026, bringing the total to nine counties. (kgw.com) (ktvz.com) Those declarations let state agencies prioritize water assistance and speed reviews through the Oregon Water Resources Department. Kotek’s office said the dry conditions threaten farms, ranches, drinking water, fish habitat, recreation and tourism. (kgw.com) (kdrv.com) Fire officials are watching May and June closely. Keep Oregon Green said spring rainfall will help determine whether the state gets an early start to fire season, and the Oregon Department of Forestry said people directly caused 740 fires that burned more than 20,000 acres in 2025. (kezi.com) Oregon can still blunt some damage with a wet spring, but the state is entering summer with less mountain water in storage than at any point in the modern record. (nrcs.usda.gov)