Oregon Public Broadcasting

A monthly snow survey Thursday found the snowpack on Mt. Hood is above average for this time of year, but snow in other parts of the state isn’t quite as deep.  Pete Springer reports.

Jon Lea is a hydrologist with the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Jon Lea “Snowpacks around the state range from 65 % out in the Malheur drainage -- Malheur river near Vale and Ontario and those locations -- to 110% near Mt. Hood.”

Lea says the amount of snow in the winter has a direct effect on summer water supplies.

Jon Lea “Upwards of three-quarters of our water supply is derived from melting snowpack.  So our summer water supplies are very much dependant on how much snow is on the ground during the winter months.”

Lea says a dry January didn't leave much new snow in the mountains.

However, he points out that in Oregon, the snowpack usually maxes out around April 1st.

That means there’s still plenty of time for more mountain snow.