Late September Climate Outlook
What’s Next for the Pacific Northwest?
Slight chances of above normal precipitation and temperatures for October 2025.
The Climate Prediction Center’s monthly outlook for October 2025 looks to be warm across the interior western United States with a slight chance (33-40%) of warmer than normal temperatures extending up into Washington State.
Are Washington Summers Changing? A long-term look at Washington Precipitation Trends
If you have lived in Washington for long enough, you are probably well aware that our dry and sunny summers end predictably around October or early November when fall rains and cloud cover move in.
Read moreEarly September Climate Outlook
The Climate Prediction Center issued a La Niña Watch in August. This watch means that La Niña conditions are likely to develop over the next several months, but that La Niña conditions are not currently in place.
Read moreAugust and Full Summer 2025 Climate Summary
Temperatures tell a consistent story across the state with warmer than normal conditions present statewide. Temperatures were well above normal across virtually the entire state. August 2025 was 2.8°F above the 1991-2020 normal statewide, ranking as the 4th warmest August since 1895 (tied with August 1962), and the warmest since August 2022.
Read moreAugust Notable Weather Events
August was a warm month characterized by notable heat waves statewide, a rare summertime atmospheric river rain event in the middle of the month, and isolated thunderstorms across the high terrain and across eastern Washington.
Read moreAugust 2025 Drought and Streamflow Update
Streamflow in August was slightly improved compared to July with the return of some near normal streamflow across the Olympics, western slopes of the Cascades and portions of the Columbia Basin when averaged across the month.
Read moreLate August Climate Outlook
What’s Next for the Pacific Northwest?
Short Term: Persistent Heat Likely Through Early September
Dangerous heat is building across the Pacific Northwest this week and into the weekend. Warmer than normal temperatures are also expected to persist over the next couple of weeks, as illustrated in the Climate Prediction Center 6-10 Day Temperature Outlook below.
Our Afternoon Heat Comes Later
Editor’s note (08/13/2025 4:30pm): Time of day was previously shown in standard time on the graphs below, in error. The graphs and text are now updated to Pacific Daylight Time.
One of the things I really appreciate about living here is how late it stays light out.
Early August Climate Outlook
ENSO-neutral conditions are likely to continue through October according to the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). Neutral conditions make it more difficult to predict upcoming fall conditions. There are roughly equal chances of either La Niña or neutral ENSO conditions for the upcoming winter, with much lower chances of El Niño conditions.
Read moreJuly 2025 Climate Summary
July was the fourth consecutive month with below normal precipitation statewide in Washington. Statewide, July 2025 was the 22nd driest month since 1895 with an average of only 0.27” of precipitation.