The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued numerous flood-related watches and warnings due to unrelenting rainfall from an atmospheric river event beginning December 8 and tapering as of December 11. Heavy rain atop already saturated soils forced rivers to swell to flood stage and beyond. Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency as floodwater and landslides have closed major highways and thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate. NRCS SNOTEL sites have also measured record amounts of rainfall in December, with some stations in the Washington Cascades recording over 20 inches of rain in the last seven days. Precipitation received in the mountains this time of year would typically result in snow accumulation, but warm temperatures have resulted in mostly rain and left the snowpack at record and near-record lows as of December 11. Other SNOTEL stations in the West have also set records for precipitation along with record and near-record low snowpack so far this water year.
