Drought conditions begin again
By Terry Murry on Thursday, July 6th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – May and June were hotter and drier than normal. National Weather Service Meteorologist Camden Plunkett said that puts the word ‘drought’ back in the forecast, at least for the short term.
“The signal for short-term drought is now extending from the Columbia Basin in Franklin and eastern Benton counties and along the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Walla Walla, Columbia, and Umatilla counties.”
Plunkett added that continued hot weather that is probably drier than normal is forecast for July as well. The fast warming trend and lack of precipitation caused for almost all of the snowpack to melt or evaporate with the exception of the highest elevations.
He said this has been the third driest start to the calendar year on record for Walla Walla. Only 1977 and 2021 were drier for the year beginning on Jan. 1. As for Pendleton, this is the sixth driest start to the calendar year since records began being kept in September of 1892. Those statistics do not hold up when looking at the water year, which begins on Oct. 1. The area experienced a very wet November.
