Low and mid-level snowpacks melted several months ago. Warm temperatures, rain and melting snow resulted in streams of northeast Oregon's Wallowa and Union counties reaching flood stage during the middle of the month and maintaining near-flood stage levels for most of the remainder of the month. The major rises in eastern Oregon streams are not expected until mid-May and early June when the main high elevation snowmelt occurs. Wet-season snowpack accumulation and precipitation are still expected to provide ample streamflows this summer in all basins. All remain in the moist categories.
Most interior basins are in the moderately moist category.
Temperatures for the month were near average statewide. Record low temperatures in early April followed late March warm temperatures. The following tables show precipitation totals through April 30, 1997. Mt. Hood Will. May is forecast to have average temperature east of a line from Klamath Falls to Pendleton and above average west of that line.