Current Drought Not The Worst
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service National Water and Climate Center says the February streamflow forecast foretells of a decline in nearly every state and basin. The dry conditions continue from the less-than-average precipitation during January, which indicatesreduced spring and summer water supply for much of the West. However, Hydrologist Randy Julander says it has been far worse in the past. At the same time, he says the winter snow season still has two months left, and if there’s average or above-average accumulation in February and March, much of the West will recover. Currently, the snow-water accumulation in the Snake River Basin is 92% of normal, it’s 95-96% or normal in Yellowstone, and 88% in the Wind River Basin.
