Water Supply Precipitation Information

Water Supply
Precipitation Summary

Weekly Divisional Precipitation Summary

Click on date to display a different weekly forecast:

 Columbia Basin Seasonal Precipitation Division Averages  
 Northwest River Forecast Center 


 (Weekly Summary: 12Z jan 1 - , 2009) 

  DIVISION               ..JAN TO DAY 12..   ....OCT - JAN.... 
                          OBSD  DEP  PCT AV    OBSD   DEP  PCT AV 

 COLUMBIA ABOVE COULEE   2.12   1.07 202.     9.20   0.40 105. 
 SNAKE RV AB ICE HARBOR  1.29   0.53 169.     6.67   0.85 115. 
 COLUMBIA AB THE DALLES  2.27   1.19 210.     9.72   1.17 114. 
 COLUMBIA AB CASTLEGAR   2.21   0.65 142.    12.95   0.28 102. 
 KOOTENAI                1.69   0.62 158.     8.30  -0.87  90. 
 CLARK FORK              2.15   1.46 312.     7.35   1.96 136. 
 FLATHEAD                2.47   1.60 284.     8.99   1.58 121. 
 PEND OREILLE/ SPOKANE   3.43   1.93 228.    12.60   0.59 105. 
 NORTHEAST WASHINGTON    1.77   1.05 246.     6.85   0.38 106. 
 OKANOGAN                1.75   1.08 261.     6.64   1.21 122. 
 EAST SLOPES WASH CASC.  8.29   5.70 320.    24.06   4.93 126. 
 CENTRAL WASHINGTON      0.86   0.45 210.     2.96  -0.61  83. 
 UPPER SNAKE             1.31   0.43 150.     7.39   0.92 114. 
 SNAKE RIVER PLAIN       0.35  -0.09  79.     3.92   0.52 115. 
 OWYHEE/ MALHEUR         0.58   0.09 119.     3.70   0.04 101. 
 SALMON/ BOISE/ PAYETTE  1.53   0.56 158.     7.48   0.24 103. 
 BURNT/ GRANDE RONDE     1.69   0.97 236.     6.04   0.36 106. 
 CLEARWATER              4.18   2.79 299.    14.50   3.77 135. 
 SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON    2.16   1.29 249.     8.36   1.11 115. 
 UPPER JOHN DAY          0.97   0.35 156.     5.13   0.04 101. 
 UMATILLA/ LWR JOHN DAY  1.79   1.04 240.     7.45   1.46 124. 
 UPR DESCHUTES/ CROOKED  0.74  -0.08  91.     4.98  -0.79  86. 
 HOOD/ LOWER DESCHUTES   3.75   2.08 225.    13.51   0.75 106. 
 NW SLOPE WASH CASCADES 13.93   9.03 284.    45.36   6.10 116. 
 SW WA CASCADES/COWLITZ 11.67   7.68 292.    35.18   3.52 111. 
 WILLAMETTE VALLEY       4.98   1.66 150.    24.26  -2.11  92. 
 ROGUE/ UMPQUA           1.71  -0.27  87.    15.82  -0.22  99. 
 KLAMATH BASIN           1.00  -0.09  91.     6.27  -1.47  81. 
 LAKE COUNTY-GOOSE LAKE  0.22  -0.33  40.     2.42  -1.85  57. 
 HARNEY/ MALHEUR BASIN   0.38  -0.08  82.     3.15  -0.59  84. 

 This precipitation summary for the Columbia River Basin is based on an 
 analysis using a limited number of reporting stations. Final values 
 depicted in this narrative are prorated by the number of elapsed days  
 in the month. 

 Precipitation normals are based on 1971-2000 historical data. 

 Please contact NWRFC for further information: (503) 326-7291. 
    
$$

Monthly Divisional Precipitation Summary

Click on date to display forecast:

 Columbia Basin Seasonal Precipitation Division Averages  
 Northwest River Forecast Center 


 (Monthly Summary -  20)  

  DIVISION               ..DEC TO DAY 31..   ....OCT - DEC.... 
                          OBSD  DEP  PCT AV    OBSD   DEP  PCT AV 

 COLUMBIA ABOVE COULEE   3.12   0.10 103.     7.26  -0.49  94. 
 SNAKE RV AB ICE HARBOR  2.72   0.75 138.     5.72   0.67 113. 
 COLUMBIA AB THE DALLES  3.21   0.23 108.     7.42  -0.05  99. 
 COLUMBIA AB CASTLEGAR   4.00  -0.29  93.    10.98  -0.14  99. 
 KOOTENAI                3.08  -0.08  97.     6.94  -1.16  86. 
 CLARK FORK              2.54   0.73 141.     5.45   0.75 116. 
 FLATHEAD                2.96   0.51 121.     5.97  -0.57  91. 
 PEND OREILLE/ SPOKANE   4.23   0.02 100.     8.77  -1.73  84. 
 NORTHEAST WASHINGTON    2.67   0.29 112.     5.71  -0.04  99. 
 OKANOGAN                1.66  -0.32  84.     4.21  -0.55  88. 
 EAST SLOPES WASH CASC.  5.63  -1.54  79.    14.47  -2.07  88. 
 CENTRAL WASHINGTON      1.08  -0.26  80.     2.65  -0.51  84. 
 UPPER SNAKE             2.94   0.80 138.     6.76   1.16 121. 
 SNAKE RIVER PLAIN       1.27   0.25 125.     3.38   0.42 114. 
 OWYHEE/ MALHEUR         1.65   0.42 134.     3.63   0.46 115. 
 SALMON/ BOISE/ PAYETTE  3.13   0.50 119.     5.96  -0.32  95. 
 BURNT/ GRANDE RONDE     2.59   0.65 133.     4.82  -0.15  97. 
 CLEARWATER              4.52   0.98 128.    10.27   0.94 110. 
 SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON    3.21   0.82 134.     6.20  -0.18  97. 
 UPPER JOHN DAY          2.24   0.50 129.     4.27  -0.20  96. 
 UMATILLA/ LWR JOHN DAY  3.31   1.40 173.     5.51   0.27 105. 
 UPR DESCHUTES/ CROOKED  2.80   0.76 137.     4.96   0.00 100. 
 HOOD/ LOWER DESCHUTES   5.96   1.33 129.    12.10   1.02 109. 
 NW SLOPE WASH CASCADES 10.77  -2.46  81.    29.80  -4.56  87. 
 SW WA CASCADES/COWLITZ  9.52  -1.56  86.    24.36  -3.30  88. 
 WILLAMETTE VALLEY       9.59   0.15 102.    20.03  -3.02  87. 
 ROGUE/ UMPQUA           7.77   2.05 136.    13.81  -0.25  98. 
 KLAMATH BASIN           3.53   0.67 123.     6.50  -0.15  98. 
 LAKE COUNTY-GOOSE LAKE  1.37  -0.05  97.     2.71  -1.01  73. 
 HARNEY/ MALHEUR BASIN   1.35   0.08 106.     3.17  -0.11  97. 

 Columbia River Basin division values are computed by utilizing 
 un-weighted precipitation amounts from key stations in each area. 

 Precipitation normals are based on 1971-2000 historical data. 

 Please contact NWRFC for further information: (503) 326-7291. 
    
NORTHWEST RIVER FORECAST CENTER PORTLAND OR !
 
PRECIPITATION, TEMPERATURE, SNOW, AND STREAMFLOW SUMMARIES !
 
Dec 08 
 

 

 
WEATHER SUMMARY !
 

 
December had below normal precipitation and temperatures amounts.
 

 
December started with fairly benign weather...but this quickly changed 
 
for much of the Pacific Northwest. a very strong and cold low pressure 
 
system brought snow and strong winds to much of the northwest over the 
 
second week of December. a cold...stormy pattern continued to bring 
 
snow and ice to much of the region through Christmas. after Christmas...
 
a few warm frontal systems brought additional precipitation that helped 
 
to melt most of the valley snow by the end of the year. The month of 
 
December had numerous record coldtemperatures along with record snowfall 
 
amounts.
 

 
PRECIPITATION SUMMARY ! 
 

 
Seasonal (October through December) precipitation was: 91 percent 
 
of normal(1971-2000) at Columbia above Coulee, 114 percent of 
 
normal at the Snake River above Ice Harbor, and 99 percent of 
 
normal at Columbia above the Dalles.
 

 

 
 
 

 
TEMPERATURE SUMMARY
 
 
 
The 31 station temperature index for the Pacific Northwest 
 
departed -2.0 degrees from normal relative to the 1971-2000 normals.  
 
Meantemperature departures ranged from -7.3 to 3.2 degrees.
 

 
General Summary !
 

 
Fall weather was somewhat dry and warm with little snow accumulation 
 
until the last half of December.  Heavy snow over most of the basin 
 
brought snow waterequivalents (SWE's) from 20 to 50 percent to 60 to 
 
130 percent by months end.Seasonal precipitation is at 90 to 130 
 
percent in the major sub basin areas.This points to a slightly 
 
below average streamflow forecast for the Columbia River at The Dalles.
 

 
Snow Summary !
 

 
Several snow producing storms at the end of December produced abrupt 
 
increases in SWE's basinwide.  As of the end of December the best 
 
snow conditions are on the Snake River at 90 to 100 percent.  In 
 
the area above Grand Coulee Dam the end of December SWE's range 
 
from 60 to 80 percent.  The exception is the Clark Fork and 
 
Bitterroot Rivers where SWE's are near average.  West of the 
 
Cascades end of December SWE's were 75 percent in the north 
 
Cascades in Washington and 115 percent in the Oregon Cascades.
 

 
Streamflow Summary !
 

 
Streamflow were generally below average through the early Fall 
 
at 60 to 90 percent of average.  In November a series of moisture 
 
laden storms brought moderate to major flooding to Western 
 
Washington and to some coastal basins in Oregon.  Spill over 
 
flooding also happened on the Stehekin, Wenatchee and Yakima 
 
Rivers in Eastern Washington.  At the end of December some 
 
minor floods hit Northwest and Southwest Oregon.  Columbia 
 
River streamflows ranged from 40 to 90 percent of the thirty 
 
year average.  Sharp cooling at the end of December caused 
 
many frozen rivers in areas East of the Cascades.
 

 
The forecast streamflows for the January 1st analysis range 
 
from 60 to 90 percent in the Middle and Upper Snake basins 
 
to near average in most of the areas above Grand Coulee Dam 
 
on the Columbia River.  West of the Cascades the streamflow 
 
forecasts are near average.  The January-July forecast for 
 
the Columbia River at The Dalles is slightly below average.
 

 
http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/water_supply/ws_fcst.cgi
 
has detailed water supply forecasts. 
 

 

 

 
 MONTHLY PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE RECORDS ! 
 

 
  
 
Partial list of record high and low temperatures in degrees (F) 
 
are listed below.Precipitation is reported in inches.
 
Please see the complete list of records at the National Weather 
 
Service FieldOffices Climatology Web pages.
 

 
	Below are several of the December 2008 Records:
 

 
DEC 07  A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 45 DEGREES WAS SET AT STANLEY ID 
 
DEC 14	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 2.4 INCHES OCCURRED AT PENDLETON AIRPORT
 
DEC 14 	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -11 DEGREES WAS SET AT HUNGRY	HORSE DAM MT
 
	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -10 DEGREES WAS SET AT POLSON MT
 

 
DEC 15	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -21 DEGREES WAS SET AT ANACONDA 	MT
 
DEC 15 	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 2.7 INCHES WAS SET AT MEDFORD OR
 
DEC 15  A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 23 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA 	WFO 
 

 
DEC 16	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -11 DEGREES WAS SET AT MCCALL ID
 
	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -6 DEGREES WAS SET AT ROME OR
 
DEC 16  RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES 
 
			       RECORD 
 
 BEND(CITY), OR 	      	 -4	 
 
 CONDON, OR		       	 -5	
 
 ELGIN, OR		       	-12	
 
 HERMISTON 2NW, OR	       	-10	  
 
 MADRAS 2N, OR  	       	 -4	  
 
 PENDLETON(CITY), OR	       	 -8	 
 
 PRINEVILLE, OR 	       	 -4	 
 
 REDMOND, OR		       	-12	
 
DEC 16  A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 3 INCHES WAS SET AT POCATELLO ID 
 
DEC 16  A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 20 DEGREES WAS SET AT SEATTLE WA 	WFO 
 
 
 
DEC 17	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -22 DEGREES WAS SET AT BURNS OR
 
DEC 17	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -5 DEGREES WAS SET AT KLAMATH    	FALLS OR 
 
DEC 17  RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES
 
			        RECORD          
 
 CONDON, OR		       	 -5	        
 
 HERMISTON 2NW, OR	       	 -9	        
 
 MADRAS 2N, OR  	       	  0	        
 
 WHITMAN MISSION, WA	       	-10	        
 
DEC 17 	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 17 INCHES WAS SET AT SPOKANE WA INTL 	AIRPORT
 
DEC 17	A RECORD SNOWFALL  OF 25.0 INCHES WAS SET AT COEUR D'ALENE ID
 
DEC 17  A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 10 DEGREES WAS SET AT EUGENE OR 
 

 
DEC 18 	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 10.8 INCHES WAS SET AT KALISPELL MT
 
DEC 18	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 10.8 INCHES WAS SET AT SPOKANE WA INTL 	AIRPORT
 

 
DEC 19 	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 5 INCHES WAS SET AT KELLOGG ID
 

 
DEC 20 	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -21 DEGREES WAS SET IN WINTHROP 	WA
 
	A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF -18 DEGREES WAS SET AT SPOKANE WA 	INTL AIRPORT
 

 
DEC 22	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 4.7 INCHES WAS SET AT BOISE ID
 
DEC 22	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 2.2 INCH(ES) WAS SET AT LEWISTON ID 	AIRPORT 
 
DEC 22	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 3.4 INCHES WAS SET AT MISSOULA MT
 
DEC 22  NEW DAILY RECORD HIGH SNOWFALL FOR DECEMBER 22ND.  
 
 CONDON, OR		       	 2.5	        
 
 HEPPNER, OR		       	 4.0	        
 
 HERMISTON 2NW, OR	       	 7.0	        
 
 MADRAS 2N, OR  	       	 7.0	        
 
 MORO, OR		       	 1.5	        
 
 PENDLETON(ES), OR	       	 3.0	        
 
 KENNEWICK, WA  	       	 2.0	        
 
 WHITMAN MISSION, WA	       	 5.7	        
 

 
DEC 27	A RECORD SNOWFALL OF 4.2 INCHES WAS SET AT BOISE ID
 

 
DEC 28	A RECORD RAINFALL OF 0.33 INCHES WAS SET AT BUTTE MT

US Dept of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Northwest River Forecast Center (NWRFC)
5241 NE 122nd Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97230-1089
Telephone: 503-326-7401

Last Modified: May 17, 2007

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