Northwest drought

Washington state officials have declared a drought emergency in a dozen counties because of early snowmelt, a lack of spring rain and low-flowing streams.

Residents of The Dalles, Oregon, are learning how much water Google’s data centers there have been using to cool the computers. Data centers around the world help people conduct daily business online, but a single facility can churn through a lot of water each day.

Despite a cool and wet spring, the Washington Department of Ecology has extended a drought emergency declaration for watersheds in eight eastern Washington counties effective June 1. Under Thursday's declaration, five watersheds spanning parts of Spokane, Lincoln, Grant, Adams, Whitman, Stevens, Okanogan and Pend Oreille counties will remain in “drought emergency” status.

Drought is expected to impact much of the Pacific Northwest this summer, including areas in eastern Washington, southern Oregon and southern Idaho. There are early indications that the summer will be on the warm side, but experts say the chance of a severe heat wave is unlikely.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday declared a statewide drought emergency because of hot, dry conditions that have plagued the region and water…

Updated information about fires added at 5:20 p.m.Dozens of wildfires burned across the torrid U.S. West on Monday, but fire agencies reported some…

SEATTLE (AP) — For the first time since 2011, the Pacific Northwest isn't showing any signs of drought.The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report shows that…