WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – An emergency drought declaration is now in effect for a large portion of the Pacific Northwest.

The Washington State Department of Ecology says that all of Whatcom and Skagit Counties now fall under the drought declaration.

In April, a drought declaration was issued for parts of Yakima and Kittitas Counties. Whatcom and Skagit Counties were under a drought advisory during that same period.

Rapid snowmelt and warmer than usual temperatures this spring led Ecology to expand their emergency drought declaration to a larger portion of the state

That area has expanded south towards Richland, over the Cascades into Ferry County, and even an area encompassing Port Angeles.

Drought advisories remain in effect for the Seattle, Tacoma and Everett metro regions.

Emergency drought declarations are activated when the water supply in any region falls below 75% of normal levels.