PORT ANGELES – The latest report on snowpack and stream flows for the area are well behind traditional averages.
According to the USDA, March saw an uptick in precipitation. That helped the snowpack in the Olympics. But the 108% of precipitation of normal last month was not enough to make up for a large deficit for the water year so far. Precipitation since the beginning of the water year in October is 87% of median.
As of April 1, the Olympic basin snowpack is still 55% of median.
The report forecasts a low streamflow this summer for both the Elwha and Dungeness rivers.
April through September, streamflow on the Elwha at the Highway 101 bridge is forecasted below normal at 74% of median. The streamflow forecast for Dungeness River near Sequim is also below normal at 71% of median this spring and summer.