Published 8:30 am Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Idaho sees shift away from more significant drought categories

Despite late-October rains, long-term moisture deficits continue to impact a large portion of the West, according to the latest edition of the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Some level of drought still covered 88% of Oregon, 66% of Idaho and 61% of Washington as of Oct. 27.

In Oregon, conditions appear especially alarming with the majority of reservoirs nearly empty and many streamflows at or near historic lows, said Larry O’Neill , Oregon’s state climatologist.

“We’re now on the clock so to speak about putting the wet in the wet season,” said O’Neill, an Oregon State University professor.

“The good news is the forecast models are showing a series of storms in the next week or two and they look especially juicy and possibly highly impactful.…