News | Washington State Climate Office

Nov 8, 2022 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Events, Climate Matters, Seasonal

The Near Endless Summer of 2022

After a very wet and cool spring, the Pacific Northwest had an unusually long stretch of warm and dry weather in 2022. The lack of rain was especially pronounced in western Washington, with many locations recording record low totals for the months of July through September.

Does the Arctic Oscillation Relate to the Variability in the Weather of WA?

The term “polar vortex” has been in the news recently, prompting this piece on the connection of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) to the weather of WA. In early January 2021, some attention was given to the polar vortex and the relationship to the sudden stratospheric warming that occurred near the pole (AO+).

A Tale of Two Sea Surface Temperatures

There is a strong indication that at least moderate, and possibly strong, La Niña conditions will be present during the upcoming winter of 2020-21. Many readers of this newsletter know of the implications for WA state, namely improved odds of seasonal mean weather on the wet and cool side and healthy snow totals in the mountains at the end of winter.

Mar 11, 2019 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Matters, Extreme Cold, Rain and Snow

Kona Storms and Winter Weather in WA State

As detailed here, the month of February 2019 will long be remembered for its snowy weather, especially in the lowlands of western Washington. We are not the only place that has experienced some unusual conditions – here we direct our attention to Hawaii, and in particular the “Kona” storm that slammed the state during the second week of the month.

Jan 4, 2019 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Events, Climate Matters, Climate Review, Rain and Snow, Temperature

January 1953: Largest Positive Monthly Temperature Anomaly in WA State History

Considering statewide averages, what would constitute a large monthly anomaly in temperature? And would we expect to see the largest monthly anomaly in winter or summer? At OWSC, these are the sorts of questions that we ask ourselves as we begin a new calendar year.

Dec 4, 2018 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Events, Climate Matters, Forecasts, Marine

The Return of Warm Water to the NE Pacific

The intense marine heat wave (MHW) of 2014-16 in the NE Pacific, aka the “Blob”, received a great deal of attention and deservedly so. When relatively warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) emerged in the Gulf of Alaska in late summer/early fall 2018, both those monitoring the North Pacific atmosphere ocean climate system, and the media, began speculating whether a new MHW might be developing.

Jan 5, 2018 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Matters, Seasonal

Regional Circulation Patterns and Temperatures in Winter

It is perhaps belaboring the obvious, but temperatures have increased in WA over the last 50-100 years. From the perspective of extremes, our colder winter months, relative to climatological norms, are not as anomalous as in past decades, and our much warmer than usual months are occurring more frequently.

Jan 6, 2016 | Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation Patterns, Climate Matters, El Niño/La Niña and Global Climate Oscillations

Early Winter Weather for WA during El Niño

We return to the topic of El Niño and what it means for WA. Perhaps this constitutes an obsession, for which we make no excuses. The extremely wet month of December 2015 serves as motivation.