Hydrologist says warm weather now, consequences later

Medford, Ore. — While much of the country has spent the past couple weeks being pounded by snow, here in the Rogue Valley we’re being spoiled with unusually warm temperatures. But National Weather Service Hydrologist, Spencer Higginson, says the weather we’re enjoying now, we’ll be paying for this summer.

Higginson said although Southern Oregon is above normal for precipitation levels, our snow pack, which sustains us through the summer, is detrimentally low.

“Crater Lake is about 33 percent of normal. They’re at 36 inches where normal is 107 inches for this date,” Higginson said.

As of now, we’re set to see an exceptionally dry summer. One Higginson said could be worse than last year. Streams and wells could dry up earlier than normal and our reservoirs could dry up too.

“Rain is always good and helpful, but nothing helps like snow,” he said.

Although warm temperatures are expected to continue, Higginson said we shouldn’t lose hope. There are still a couple of months to see snowfall. But he said it will help to start conserving water now. Click here for tips: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/chap3.cfm