Climate Matters: A Wildfire Note From WA DNR

Last fall, I stood on a hillside east of White Salmon overlooking the Columbia River Gorge.
Below me was the burn scar from the Burdoin Fire, an 11,000-acre wildfire that had swept through the Gorge just months earlier, destroying 45 structures and threatening hundreds more. 

Early August Climate Outlook

Key Messages:

El Niño continued to intensify in the tropical Pacific this month. 

Odds of a very strong El Niño event by this fall have increased since the last ENSO strength forecast from NOAA. 

August 2026 Drought and Streamflow Update

Key Messages: 

Streamflows in mountain basins continue to run below to extremely below normal due to poor snowpack and dry summer conditions. 

Water supply forecasts have remained relatively unchanged, with continued expectations of well below normal summer water supply for all major rivers besides the Columbia.  

July 2026 Climate Summary

Key Messages: 

Statewide temperatures were above normal, marking the 9th consecutive month with above normal statewide temperatures. 

Temperatures were +2-4°F above normal across the eastern slopes of the Cascades and across much of eastern Washington.  

Climate Matters: What to expect from this year’s wildfire season in the Northwest

Introduction
Wildfire becomes a part of life across much of the western US this time of year, and the Pacific Northwest is no exception. The smell of smoke from fires burning hundreds of miles away or the news alerts of fires threatening nearby communities can dominate our daily routines. 

Early July Climate Outlook

Key Messages:

El Niño has officially emerged in the tropical Pacific, and will continue to strengthen through the summer and into fall. 

The summer (July-September) outlook continues to indicate elevated chances of warmer than normal conditions statewide and drier than normal conditions across western Washington.  

June 2026 Drought and Streamflow Update

Key Messages: 

Statewide SNOTEL stations have all melted out. This occurred about 3 weeks earlier than normal. 

Streamflows on snowpack-fed rivers remain well below normal with some gauges reporting record low streamflows. 

June 2026 Climate Summary

Key Messages: 

Temperatures were 1-4°F above normal across much of the state, marking the 8th consecutive month with above normal statewide temperatures. 

The Olympics, Puget Sound, southern I-5 corridor and the Cascades were the warmest relative to normal. 

Climate Matters: How much water is in Washington’s snowpack?

Snowpack is an important source of water for Washington. Reservoirs also help store water from snowmelt, releasing it as needed throughout the dry season. This year’s drought has renewed conversations about the amount of water in our snowpack and reservoirs, and just how much we can rely on each for meeting water demand in the future. 

Early June Climate Outlook

Key Messages:

ENSO-neutral conditions are still present, but a transition to El Niño is expected very soon. El Niño is likely to continue to strengthen into the fall. 

The summer (June-August) outlook indicates elevated chances of warmer and drier than normal conditions.