January 2023: In some years, the eastern Gorge would have seen its first grass-widows, desert parsley, and saxifrage by mid-January. But a very cold and snowy December means that this is not one of those years. Barring a major arctic outbreak, things should start blooming in earnest in February.

Meanwhile, the precipitation and snowpack in most of Oregon and Washington is near normal — with the exception of southeastern Oregon, which is a bit wetter than usual, so that's good news. (Unfortunately, the area around Prineville, Oregon is still painfully dry.) California, Nevada, and Utah are in great shape.