PENDLETON — After last week’s winter storms covered Umatilla County in snow, followed by sunshine and warmer temperatures early in the week, many residents rightfully grew wary wondering if floods could once again be on the horizon.

So far, however, conditions look sturdy, safe and residents can rest assured, according to Umatilla County officials.

“We’ll see small rises in the rivers and the streams,” Marilyn Lohman, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Pendleton, said of the upcoming snowmelt. “But they aren’t expected to be anywhere near any flood stages at this time.”

Snowpack levels in the Blue Mountains are nearing normal levels for this time of year after the hillsides were blasted with snow last week, according to Lohman. But the snow, for the large part, was a dry snow due to the cold front, making conditions less conducive to flooding.

“The snow that fell was more powdery, which means it had a lower water content,” Lohman said.

Short-term conditions over the next two weeks are also looking optimistic, Lohman said, with occasional weather systems forecast to bring light precipitation. Through March, the weather service is expecting cooler than normal temperatures and seasonal precipitation.

However, conditions can change daily, Lohman said. The weather service is continuing to monitor for signs of possible floods, and residents who may be at risk of flooding events should keep a watchful eye and consider preparing themselves in case conditions suddenly shift.

“It’s that time of year to keep abreast of the changes in the weather,” Lohman said. “Maybe stay up-to-date on changing conditions and make sure that you are prepared. If something were to happen, what would you do? Maybe start thinking ahead.”

Last week, Lohman and a group of officials from Umatilla and Walla Walla counties met to discuss the current conditions and prepare for the possibility of future floods. Among those attending were county and city officials as well as those from law enforcement, the National Weather Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

“I really sympathize with all these folks that have gone through last year’s (flood) and are still dealing with it, and then we get 17 inches of snow, and they think — where in the world is that going to go?” said Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran, who attended the meeting on behalf of the commissioners.

Officials plan to hold weekly briefings throughout the winter and early spring to be more proactive and plan for possible floods.

“What we’ve learned from the floods in the past couple of years has helped us to be better prepared and more vigilant and aware of the possibilities, thus we are able to help our entire community,” Umatilla County Emergency Manager Tom Roberts said in a press release regarding the meeting and current conditions. “Each of us should also be prepared individually, which is also very important.”