The snowpack in North Idaho's mountains is unlike anything Hydrologist David Hoekema has seen before.

And it's got him worried.

"North Idaho has experienced three years of drought, and current conditions are making it highly likely there will be a fourth year of drought, which is the longest period of drought since the early 1900s," said Hoekema, with the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

He said that while precipitation records are being set at higher elevations, it's more rain than snow, creating what he called a "snow drought." This is allowing for high runoff during the winter when streams are usually at low flow.

"Despite precipitation statewide being above normal, snowpack is well below normal," Hoekema said.

Hoekema said this year has been the warmest winter on record so far, exceeding 1934. If conditions remain warm, expect to see early snowmelt and "likely a continuation of some level of drought."

And unless conditions change significantly, Hoekema said there will be very little snowpack to melt come spring and summer stream flows may be extremely low, leading to negative impacts on the ecosystem and on aquatic species that will likely face higher than normal streamflow temperatures. This could also negatively impact hydropower production, he added.

Hoekema said the Kootenai and Pend Oreille basins currently have normal snowpack conditions based on the Snotel index.

"But if you dig into the data you see an abnormal picture," he said, adding that low- and mid-elevation snow is missing this year.  

All eight Snotel sites within the Spokane/Coeur d’ Alene Basin have drought percentiles and four are setting record lows. 

Hoekema said while precipitation has helped keep soils saturated, snowpack accumulation is needed for North Idaho to recover from drought. 

He said Western Idaho is a risk of serious drought without more snow accumulation, while Eastern Idaho is doing well, except on the southern side of the Snake River basin, which will need "significant snowpack" to recover from drought.

But snow isn't in the forecast for North Idaho.

According to the National Weather Service, the Coeur d'Alene area will see mostly dry conditions through next week, with highs reaching the mid-40s. Snow isn't on the radar for nearly two more weeks.

"Starting this weekend, Idaho is expected to be drier than normal for at least one week," Hoekema said.