Extreme Drought now grips over 71% of Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. - Drought tightened its grip on Oregon and the West Coast this week as "critically dry conditions persisted across northern California and the Northwest," according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Not a square inch of Oregon is free from drought, and nearly the entire state - 93.67% - qualifies as Severe Drought or worse.

The percentage of Oregon experiencing more severe Extreme Drought jumped up from 56% last week to over 71% this week.

And the worst category - Exceptional Drought - now applies to almost a quarter of the state.

Last year at this time, none of the state qualified as Exceptional - and less than 13% registered as Extreme.

According to the U.S. Drought monitor, in Extreme Drought conditions Oregon can expect to see wildfire activity high; reservoirs and lakes low; and environmental impacts on farmers as well as wildlife.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is jointly produced by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.