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We’ve seen some wet weather across the state in the weeks since drought was declared in a few Central Washington watersheds on April 4.

Warm water is becoming all too common in the summer months. So much so, that we have teams floating the river to document refuges of cooler water.

Months of unusually warm and dry weather continue to put pressure on the state’s rivers and streams.

70 percent of the state is abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The U.S. Drought Monitor map classifies much of the region as experiencing moderate drought-like conditions.

NOAA is forecasting summer to be even drier and warmer than normal, so dry conditions are likely to persist until the fall rains return.

The western and southern part of the state is abnormally dry with some areas showing moderately drought-like conditions.

In April, water managers announced a 100 percent water supply for Yakima irrigators this season. They optimistically predicted all water users were set.

We have notified 93 junior water right holders in the Chehalis River basin that their access to surface water for irrigation is curtailed.

The balmy spring caused snowpack to melt at record rates. In early April, the state snowpack was slightly above normal. By late May, it was less than 50 percent of normal.