PORTLAND â Heading into 2021, Oregonâs snowpack and overall precipitation levels are faring much better than they were a year ago, though there is still room for improvement as river basins across the state rebound from drought.
As of Dec. 30, snowpack is 80% of average for the water year that began Oct. 1, and precipitation is 85% of average. That compares to 45% of average snowpack and 49% of average precipitation at the same time last year.
Scott Oviatt, snow survey supervisor for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Portland, said parts of southwest and central Oregon remain in severe to extreme drought, and the coming months will be crucial for replenishing streams and reservoirs.