SALEM — As snow fell Friday, March 1, on much of Oregon, the state’s snowpack looked to be in good shape, causing early-season water worries to evaporate.

The average snow-water equivalent for the state’s 12 regions was 106% of the median for the years 1991 to 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service.

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But regions in Northeastern Oregon had a snow-water equivalent below 90% of normal for that date, and half of the other regions were above 100%.

The health of the snowpack will be defined by measurements on April 1, when it should be at its peak.

“Right now, we’re on track for a good, normal snowpack season,” said Larry O’Neill, state climatologist.

But the snowpack needs to keep building, as many areas are only at 70% of the total needed by next month, O’Neill said.

Even if Oregon’s snowpack reaches normal levels April 1, it’s still vulnerable to a dry and warm spring. In 2021 and 2023, a strong snowpack melted out early in many regions.

Though the outlook has improved, including for river flow forecasts, areas including Central Oregon and the Klamath basin still have the potential for drought this summer, O’Neill said.

Early concerns

Snowmelt helps to fill streams and rivers for farms and fish. In general, less snowpack means earlier low summer flows, which could result in earlier water restrictions.

El Nino years tend to be warmer than usual, which can melt snow earlier.

Heading into 2024, the snowpack was near record lows in Oregon, but January storms dumped feet of snow in mountain ranges.

The snowpack declined rapidly afterward and the long range forecast was looking for warmer and drier conditions than usual.

However, atmospheric rivers swept down from Alaska.

“It’s not what’s expected, but we’ll take it,” O’Neill said.

Washington has been left out of the colder, wet weather patterns and its snowpack remains lean, spawning concerns about intensifying drought, O’Neill said.

Region by region

Oregon’s Owyhee River region, which stretches into Idaho and Nevada — several basins dip into neighboring states — was at 146% of normal snow-water equivalent for March 1.

The Harney region was at 134%, followed by:

Malheur basin, 124%.

John Day basin, 112%.

Upper Deschutes and Crooked River basins, 106%.

Willamette River basin, 101%.

Rogue and Umpqua basins, 99%.

Klamath region, 95%.

Mount Hood, Sandy River and Lower Deschutes region, 93%.

Lake County and Goose Lake area, 90%.

Grande Ronde, Burnt, Powder and Imnaha region, 89%.

Umatilla, Walla Walla and Willow region, 86%.