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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Police converge after shot fired in Central Point home ... Cops gain new high-tech fingerprint device ... Providence medical worker stole from patients' wallets ... Police converge after shot fired in Central Point home ... Cops gain new high-tech fingerprint device ... Providence medical worker stole from patients' wallets ... WATER RESOURCES Warm April quickly melts Oregon snowpack Comment By Eric Mortenson Capital Press MailTribune.com By Eric Mortenson Capital Press Posted Apr. 26, 2016 at 7:22 PM By Eric Mortenson Capital Press Posted Apr. 26, 2016 at 7:22 PM » Social News SALEM — Wildly fluctuating April weather sent Oregon's snowpack up, down and now, in some areas, melted out. It's still too early to project water trouble this summer — the return of cool weather could help retain snow or even increase the snowpack a bit — but as the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Portland put it, "What a difference three weeks can make." At the first of April, everything looked great for irrigators, fish and wildlife managers and others who monitor and care about streamflows and reservoir levels. Heavy snow and rain blanketed Oregon this past winter, and the amount of water contained in the snowpack was at or above normal in nearly every river basin in the state. But April brought unseasonably warm weather, including a record-high temperature of 85 degrees on April 7, measured at Portland International Airport. By April 22, the amount of water stored in the snowpack, called the snow water equivalent, was well below the 1981-2010 median. The Deschutes and Malheur regions of central and southeast Oregon measured 11 percent and 31 percent of normal, respectfully. Other river basins measured from 51 to 83 percent of the median for this time of year. Some NRCS automated monitors show no snow remaining, hydrologist Julie Koeberle said. "It went fast, because of the warm temperatures," she said. Oregon's snowpacks typically begin to melt in April, but at a slower pace that sustains streams through the hot months. Koeberle said the NRCS will have a better handle on things within the next couple weeks, as snow survey teams hit the mountains and take a closer look. Sustained cooler temperatures would be helpful, she said. By Eric Mortenson Capital Press MailTribune.com By Eric Mortenson Capital Press Posted Apr. 26, 2016 at 7:22 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501