Scientists at Washington State University are forecasting the biggest single outbreak of Grasshoppers to hit the Pacific Northwest in three decades.

The US Department of Agriculture found an increase in the number of grasshopper eggs last fall that when combined with a mild winter and spring has created the perfect conditions for an outbreak.

"In some areas there will indeed be masses, and there will be big masses of grasshoppers. Not biblical proportions, but big masses of grasshoppers moving through areas,? Richard Zack, associate professor of Entomology at Washington State University, said.

Last summer grasshopper infestations in southeastern Oregon wiped out 7,000 acres of grassland. This year the areas that are at risk include the high desert regions near Yakima, Tri-Cities and Othello.

In addition to the grasshopper infestation scientists are also concerned about the so-called ?Mormon Cricket?, a flightless insect that travels in hordes of tens of thousands of insects and devours everything in their path.

While the grasshopper outbreak won?t be biblical, Zack says that an outbreak of ?Mormon Crickets? would be.

?They will eat almost all parts of the plants and virtually any plant that's there. So this would be like biblical, where when they come through an area, they just start eating everything," Zack said. "There are massive numbers of them, and then when they exit that area, pretty much anything green is gone."

The grasshopper infestation is expected to reach its peak between late July and early August.