Washington’s snowpack was only 64% of normal Feb. 28 and is unlikely to build enough in the next two months to avoid water shortages this summer, officials said.

The Cascade Range was expected to receive heavy snow Feb. 28 and Feb. 29. Natural Resources Conservation Service hydrologist Matt Warbritton said he doubted the storm will erase concerns about significant water shortages.

“Snowpack conditions (are) extremely poor across the state,” he said. “The state is in a snow drought.”

The Department of Ecology convened its water-supply committee to hear reports from state and federal officials watching for drought. The outlook was generally pessimistic.

Basin snowpacks low

Basin snowpacks range from 82% in the Lower Snake River basin to 35% in the Olympic Mountains. Snowpacks in three other basins — North Puget Sound, Lower Yakima and Spokane — were under 60% of normal.

The snowpack typically peaks in April, so it could still rally, but it’s unlikely, National Weather Service hydrologist Brent Bower said.

An El Nino reigns, triggered by warmer than average sea-surface temperatures. Because of the El Nino, the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts Washington will have a warm and dry spring.

“It’s not a very good setup to have one of those March miracles,” Bower said.

La Nina expected

Washington’s snowpack started slow and hasn’t recovered, despite some snow storms. The state had its third-warmest December in 129 years of record-keeping. Washington’s warmest Decembers were in 1900 and 1939.

The winter has been generally typical for an El Nino year, Washington State Climatologist Nick Bond said.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts the El Nino will yield this spring to neutral conditions and an La Nino will form in the fall. Washington winters are typically colder and wetter than average during a La Nina.

“If we can get through this winter, maybe we’ll be in better shape in that there’s a good chance that once again we’ll have La Nina,” Bond said.

The five Yakima River basin reservoirs Wednesday held 64% of their normal amount of water for the date. The reservoirs store irrigation water for Central Washington farmers.

The Bureau of Reclamation will provide an early forecast March 4 of how much water irrigators with junior-water rights will receive for the upcoming growing season.