BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Our region is reporting some mixed results for water supply after an unusual winter begins to recede.

The US Dept. of Agriculture releases a Washington Water Supply Outlook report periodically throughout the year.

This year, the department reports annual snowmelt began earlier than normal throughout the state. In the North Puget Sound Basin, the snowpack was less than 70% of normal compared to previous years.

The dry spell we saw earlier this year was worrying to forecasters, who call it the driest or second driest on record for that period of time. According to the department, the storms we received in late February did not recharge the snowpack enough to bring it back to normal.

Forecasters have designated that much of western Washington is in a Moderate Drought as of March 4.

To read the full report from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service you can read it here.