Snow is continuing to accumulate at higher-than-normal levels in Oregon’s mountains. The build-up may aid the state in recovering from drought.
A map showing Oregon snowpack levels as of March 27, 2023.
National Water And Climate Center/USDA
As spring continues, the snow and ice that remains on Oregon’s higher elevations are melting into runoff that could help refill reservoirs and streams, and rejuvenate forests and vegetation.
“To make up for that water deficit, what we really need is above-normal snowpack,” said Matt Warbritton, a spokesperson for the Oregon Snow Survey. “Right now, that’s what we’re seeing. So we’re hoping that continues; we can never hope for too much snow.”
As of Monday, much of the Cascades were at nearly 140% of normal snowpack levels for this time of year. Parts of eastern Oregon were as high as 180% of normal.