Monday January 23, 2023
The Spokesman-Review —
The drought afflicting Washington is loosening its grip amid a wet winter.
Conditions are improving to the best in about three years, according to reporting from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
About half of the state, including most of Spokane County, has had no reported drought, with conditions better each week since November. Conditions of only “abnormally dry” were reported in central Washington, northeast Washington and the Puget Sound area. That’s the lowest drought-related rating from the monitor.
“Right now we’re looking at our drought monitor and we’re sitting really good,” said National Weather Service hydrologist Robin Fox, who analyzes environmental conditions in the Inland Northwest.
The short bursts of rainfall in recent weeks have been beneficial for the region, Fox said.
It’s still too early to say how Eastern Washington will fare by the time summer and fire season arrive.