Oregon Public Broadcasting

The El Niño weather pattern that has soaked the Southwest this winter has spared the Northwest. And it's showing in the region's mountains. Snowpack levels in many areas are well below normal.

In Idaho, Ron Abramovich says some of the southern part of the state has caught the moisture that has drenched California.

Abramovich is a water supply specialist for the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service in Boise.

He says most of Idaho has only between 50-to-80-percent of its average February snowpack.

Ron Abramovich:"Based on the past 50 years, we've seen most areas, when they're this low, there's not the chance that they'll recover to near normal levels by April 1."

The Northwest River Forecast Center confirms that Washington and Oregon are in the same situation.

Ron Abramovich says higher than usual reservoir levels from last year will help push the spring runoff closer to average.

But, he says, barring an unforeseen deluge in the next two months, many of the Northwest's rivers and streams will be drier than usual this summer.