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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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In Our View: Some Good Climate News

With snowpack above normal, state more likely to avoid repeat of drought

The Columbian
Published:

For the first time in quite awhile, there is some good news regarding Washington’s climate. A report last week from the Natural Resources Conservation Service indicated that mountain snowpack throughout the state was at 109 percent of normal — providing hope that last summer’s disastrous drought will not be repeated.

Winter snowpack is crucial for agriculture, industry, wildlife habitat and even wildfire prevention. The spring thaw fills rivers and reservoirs, and the lack of snowpack last year contributed to dry lands that resulted in a catastrophic wildfire season. An extremely wet fall and early winter this time around filled those waterways and was accompanied by robust snowfall in the mountains.

Scott Pattee, a water supply expert for the conservation service, said: “With 70 percent of our typical winter already past, the rest will be a coast as long as the temperatures don’t elevate to the point to cause snowmelt.” That remains to be seen, but the state is in better shape than it was at this time last year — a year in which a statewide drought emergency was declared. That emergency was not extended into 2016, providing another indication of improving conditions.

That being said, it is essential that this year’s snowpack not be used to dismiss the notion that the climate is changing. Temperatures remain above normal, which over time will lead to alterations in agricultural land, wildlife habitat and ecological needs. For example, there is strong evidence that glaciers are shrinking throughout the region, and those glaciers are essential for providing drinking water (Clark County’s water comes primarily from aquifers), hydropower, and a cooling flow into rivers and streams.

Still, winter storms fueled by El Ni?o conditions have been welcomed throughout the West. The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, for example, is 115 percent of normal — the highest level California has seen in five years. Oregon and Idaho also report robust snowpack, reversing recent trends. Pattee said: “It’s critical we had a good snowpack this year.”

Climate indicators such as rainfall, snowpack and temperatures can be viewed year to year, but can only be assessed over time. For now, at least, this year looks promising for a region in need of some good news.

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