5-21-2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Nearly half of the state of Washington is in a drought emergency, including the Nooksack River basin and the upper and lower Skagit River basins.
Forecasts for dry weather and water supply shortages prompted Governor Jay Inslee to expand a drought emergency declaration made on April 4.
That declaration only covered the Methow, Okanogan and Upper Yakima Basins.
It now covers 24 watersheds throughout the state.
The governor’s office says the snowpack is currently at 50% of normal and the Department of Ecology expects it to melt more quickly in this warmer, drier weather, possibly causing water shortages.