OCCRI

Join us February 23 for Pacific Northwest Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar Email from NOAA/NIDIS Get the latest conditions and outlooks Pacific Northwest DEWS National Integrated Drought Information System Drought.gov   Pacific Northwest Drought Early Warning System February

Next Monday at 11:00 a.m. Pacific: Pacific Northwest Drought and Climate Outlook Webinar, featuring Oregon State Climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social and colleagues at NOAA and NRCS. Register at conta.cc/4tvUwPu

Oregon snowpack at record low as Northwest faces deepening snow drought - The Bulletin Oregon’s snowpack has fallen to its lowest level on record for this time of year, part of a broader snow drought gripping the Pacific Northwest and raising concerns about water […]

Snow drought creates stress for sectors, organisms, and needs including but not limited to the ski industry, fishes, and electricity supply. bendbulletin.com/2026/02/11/o...

Oregon’s record low snowpack is not likely to recover, scientists say Oregon is currently in the middle of a record-breaking snow drought for this time of year. If conditions don’t change, it could spell a challenging year ahead for cities, wildlife and farming.

Despite likely storms in the coming weeks, @larryoneill.bsky.social and climatologists across the Pacific Northwest detail potential water scarcity during this year's growing season www.opb.org/article/2026...

Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West | February 5, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners release these snow drought updates for the western U.S. every 4 weeks from December through June.

Snow conditions currently are lousy across most of the western United States, but may improve later in February. www.drought.gov/drought-stat...

Oregon’s on track to break low snowpack records, but there’s still hope for snow Oregon is experiencing its lowest snowpack for this time of year. But that could change, as mountain areas are expecting snowfall this weekend, and low-lying valleys might see snow later this month.

Is "regular winter weather" and a reprieve from snow drought in Oregon's future? State climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social says there's a distinct possibility. www.opb.org/article/2026...

What makes the Fire Program Analysis Fire-Occurrence Database (Short 2022) even better? An additional 270 attributes associated with each of the >2M wildfires it documents. Learn more about the augmented data, led by Yavar Pourmohamad and @mojisadegh.bsky.social, here: mailchi.mp/blm/friday-f...

Snow Drought in the West Reaches Record Levels

Snow drought in the western United States is the present. Is it also the future? www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/s...

Trump’s biggest climate rollback stalls over fears it will lose in court Trump officials have delayed finalizing the repeal of the agency’s “endangerment finding” over concerns the proposal is too weak to withstand a court challenge.

wapo.st/4riopkl

Thanks to the Joint Fire Science Program for highlighting this work led by our colleagues Yavar Pourmohamad and @mojisadegh.bsky.social on predicting where and when human-caused wildfire ignitions are most likely across the western United States. mailchi.mp/blm/friday-f...

Will Oregon's mountains get any more snow this winter? Plus, where did 2025 rank in terms of heat, rain? In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with Oregon state climatologist Larry O'Neill about the state's lack of mountain snow and whether it's going to rally this winter. Then, they talk about where 2

Oregon Climate Service director and state climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social featured in this new podcast on Oregon's snow conditions and 2025 climate. soundcloud.com/oregonoutdoo...

World’s First Treaty to Protect the High Seas Becomes Law

A major step in marine conservation www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/c...

What's "snow water equivalent," and how does it affect Oregon's water supply? The USDA Northwest Climate Hub explains. www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwe...

E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution

"The E.P.A. plans to stop tallying gains from the health benefits caused by curbing two of the most widespread deadly air pollutants, fine particulate matter and ozone, when regulating industry" www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/c...

January 2026 Snow Drought Status Update Email from NOAA/NIDIS Record Warmth, Rain Instead of Snow Intensifies Snow Drought Across the West Snow Drought Update   January 8, 2026 Snow Drought Status Update Record Warmth, Rain Instead of Snow

Record Warmth, Rain Instead of Snow Intensifies Snow Drought Across the West. myemail.constantcontact.com/January-2026...

Oregon sees snow shortage to start 2026, storm won’t solve problem | Capital Press Oregon’ snowpack was poor to start the new year and while a significant storm the first week of 2026 could help, it won’t solve the shortage.

Oregon is in snow drought. Oregon State Climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social discusses how much snow the state needs to avoid potential water shortages. capitalpress.com/2026/01/05/o...

New open-access publication on prediction of wildfire occurrence across the western United States. Led by Yavar Pourmohamad with authors including @occri.bsky.social director Erica Fleishman and OCCRI research partners John Abatzoglou and Moji Sadegh. doi.org/10.1029/2025...

Throughout this year, OCCRI will be developing the eighth Oregon climate assessment for release in early 2027. Would you like us to address particular topics that we haven't explored in the past? Post your comments below.

U.S. Will Pay $450,000 to Wildfire Fighters With Cancer

Doing right by wildland firefighters. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...

As climate changes, the PNW could experience stronger and more frequent atmospheric rivers As the climate changes, atmospheric rivers hold more moisture, and that means more rainfall, according to Oregon's climatologist.

State climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social explains why atmospheric rivers may become more common in a warming climate. www.opb.org/article/2025...

Recording Available: December Pacific Northwest Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar Email from NOAA/NIDIS Get the latest conditions and outlooks Pacific Northwest DEWS National Integrated Drought Information System Drought.gov   Pacific Northwest Drought Early Warning System December

Did you miss December Pacific Northwest Drought & Climate Outlook webinar? A recording is now available: conta.cc/4iWwFDD

December 2025 Snow Drought Status Update Email from NOAA/NIDIS Winter Begins With Rain Instead of Snow; Snow Drought Takes Hold Across the West Snow Drought Update   December 11, 2025 Snow Drought Status Update Winter Begins With Rain Instea

The West is fairly wet. Just not snowy. Learn more here: myemail.constantcontact.com/December-202...

Want a say in Oregon’s natural disaster budget? New ‘resilience’ forum offers a chance • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregonians may soon have greater input in how the next statewide budget seeks to mitigate natural disasters.

OCCRI is playing a primary role in development of the Plan for a Resilient Oregon, led by Governor Kotek's office. Learn more about the Plan, including opportunities for participation, here: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/briefs/want-...

Pacific Northwest Water Summit | November 4, 2025 | Drought.gov The Pacific Northwest Water Summit, led by the Idaho Department of Water Resources and Boise State University, is a new iteration of the annual Idaho Fall Water Supply Meeting held each year to recap ...

Register for the Pacific Northwest Water Summit on 4 November in Boise, Idaho, and online. The event focuses on increasing drought and climate resilience across economic sectors that depend on the region's water supply. www.drought.gov/events/pacif...

Pope Leo hits out at critics of global warming In his first major statement on climate change, the pontiff criticises those who minimise climate change.

bbc.com/news/article...

What impacts did you observe and what actions did you take during the 2025 water year (October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025) due to abnormally dry or abnormally wet conditions? Please participate in the annual Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Survey: uwashington.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Register for the 2025 Pacific Northwest Water Summit Email from NOAA/NIDIS Register today Pacific Northwest DEWS Join Us: Pacific Northwest Water Summit November 4, 2025 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In Person at Boise State University or Limited Virtual The Idah

Register for the 2025 Pacific Northwest water summit. Nov 4 in Boise or limited virtual participation. Agenda and more details at myemail.constantcontact.com/Register-for...

‘They’re Small but They’re Mighty.’ Meet the Wisconsin Sisters Healing the Land.

A wonderful story of hope, good people, and sense of place. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/c...

More than half of Northwest in severe, extreme drought, Oregon in historic dry period Between April and July, Oregon experienced its fourth driest period since record keeping began in 1895, according to the state’s climatologist.

State climatologist @larryoneill.bsky.social explains why almost 80% of the Northwest is in drought. www.opb.org/article/2025...

Dozens of scientists find errors in a new Energy Department climate report More than 85 scientists say that a recent U.S. Department of Energy report is full of errors and misrepresents climate science.

www.npr.org/2025/09/02/n...

It’s been 20 years since forecasters issued the Katrina ‘doomsday’ statement The statement, which preceded the first mandatory evacuation order for the city of New Orleans before Katrina made landfall, warned of “human suffering incredible by modern standards.”

Here is a non-paywalled version: wapo.st/3HStnDr