Oregon having above-average season for rain, snow

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon is having a consistently wetter-than-average rainy season for the first time since 2017.

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Oregon state climatologist Larry O’Neill told KOIN 6 News that the state enjoyed above-average precipitation from October to February. With more rain and snow on the way, O’Neill said that most of the state is in good shape heading into the warmer, drier months. However, many regions are still struggling to recover from the unprecedented drought seen in 2020.

“Given the overall good conditions, I am cautiously optimistic that summer water supply conditions will be good in many places,” O’Neill said. “Although much of the state is still feeling effects from the drought since 2020, which was among the worst in Oregon’s recorded history.”

Drought conditions continue to improve for most of the state, which is currently saturated with 7% more rain and 9% more snowpack than the average Oregon water season. Records show that the state is showing some of the mildest drought conditions since 2019. While most of Oregon is now experiencing little to no drought, areas in central and northwest Oregon and the southern Willamette Valley remain somewhat dry.

“Even though the state as a whole is in good shape, there are two areas of concern for continued drought conditions,” O’Neill said. “These areas are in Central Oregon and the Klamath Basin. Both areas have still not recovered from the last four years of severe drought, and this year both regions have thus far had below average precipitation.”

The Portland area is forecast for more rain through Monday followed by several days of dry, partly sunny weather. Another round of rain returns this weekend. While El Niño seasons have historically brought Oregon warmer and drier seasons, O’Neill said that conditions in Oregon are expected to remain wet and cool for the foreseeable forecast.

“Oregon historically has had warmer-than-average weather during strong El Niño springs,” he said. “Cool, wet weather is favored over the next few weeks as an active phase of the Madden Julian Oscillation in the tropical Pacific will favor the formation of a large trough of low pressure over the North Pacific, which will keep an active subtropical storm track aimed somewhere between California and Oregon.”

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