Oregon Public Broadcasting

As Oregon scientists look back at the state’s December snow storms, it’s really a tale of two elevations.

Jon Lea is the snow survey supervisor for the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Tuesday, he was driving back from checking the snow levels on Mount Hood.

Jon Lea: “Our low elevation sites are well above average, percentage-wise. And our high elevation sites are slightly below average, based on percentage.”

Meaning: there’s been a lot of snow in Portland and the Willamette Valley – and not enough snow in the mountains and ski resorts.

Scientists say snowpack is key, because a lot of the river flow in the summer depends on it.

And across the state, Lea says we’re a bit above normal.

But, it’s not uniform.

For instance, he points out that snow levels in Malheur County are almost 20-percent below average.