Ag Weather Impacts

Ag Weather Impacts

Precipitation Wednesday night through last night was between a quarter and half inch on most farms in the Columbia Basin. You can the next Pacific front to move across the inland northwest this evening into Saturday morning. A warm front will bring more rain Saturday night into Sunday. So additional rainfall of ½ to 1 inch is likely through Sunday. Stockmen are advised that moderate to severe cold stress is likely tonight and Saturday night for newborn or weak livestock. Looking back this first half of January has been rather dry, but with the precipitation yesterday and that which is expected tonight through Sunday and again Wednesday we should get close to normal for the month. After Wednesday, I really don't see any significant moisture for the rest of January, except in the mountains. Now speaking of the mountains, the snowpack ranges from 80 to 85 percent in the Yakima and Snake Watersheds to between 90 and 98 percent in the middle and upper Columbia watershed and the Umatilla drainage. Yesterday, NOAA's Climate prediction center issued their outlook for February which calls for above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation. The spring outlook continues with the prediction of above normal temperatures, but coupled with near to below normal rainfall. If this bears out, it would likely mean an early snowmelt for the mountains and less moisture than desired for pastures and early developing crops.
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