A few weeks back I mentioned that the deep snowpack in the northeastern United States had forecasters there concerned about spring flooding. Across the country, in the northwestern U.S. - specifically Washington and Oregon - the problem is the opposite. Many areas there are in a moderate to severe drought. And this is more than just a meteorological issue. It may also affect the much-publicized electricity shortages out West. Here's how.

The Pacific Northwest depends heavily on hydroelectric power. In fact, about 85% of the total electricity in Washington and Oregon is hydro-generated. California typically imports hydroelectric power from Washington and Oregon in the winter, and then sends some power back in the summer.

But with the current electricity shortages in California, they may not be able to do that this summer. Couple that with the drought conditions that have reduced the flow of water through the hydroelectric dams along the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, and there may be power shortages in the Pacific Northwest this summer as well. If this happens, it will truly be a case in which an energy shortage can be traced, at least in part, back to the weather.