News | Washington State Climate Office

A photograph of an unburned forest on the left and a burned forest on the right with a roadway cleanly dividing the two.

Jul 8, 2026 | Air Quality and Wildfire, Climate Matters, July 2026 Newsletter

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.

Jun 5, 2026 | Climate Matters, June 2026 Newsletter

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.

A photograph of Cle Elum Dam. Turquoise water sits below the dam on a sunny day.

May 12, 2026 | Climate Matters, Drought and Soil Conditions, May 2026 Newsletter, Rain and Snow

Full Reservoirs Only Meet One-Third of Total Demand in the Yakima Basin

Winter Recap: Snowpack Near Record Lows Following Warm Winter
Conditions this winter were quite remarkable. Statewide, November through March was the second warmest such period since at least 1895, surpassed only by the exceptionally mild winter of 2014-2015.

A photograph of the fertile Palouse in eastern Washington. A green field in the foreground is being watered via pivot irrigation. Dry, brown foothills makeup the middleground and background.

Apr 8, 2026 | April 2026 Newsletter, Climate Change Report, Climate Matters, Climate Review, Drought and Soil Conditions

Climate Matters: Assessing Drought Impacts

The newest statewide drought declaration announced this week marks the fourth consecutive year with a drought declaration in at least some part of Washington State. With these recent droughts, WASCO has been working to better understand the myriad of ways that droughts can develop and their sector-specific impacts.

Mar 9, 2026 | Climate Matters, Climate Variability, Flooding and Streamflow, March 2026 Newsletter, Rain and Snow

Climate Matters: Mountain Snowpack and Streamflow

With Washington’s statewide snowpack as of March 5th ranking as the 3rd lowest since modern records began in 1985, questions have been coming into WASCO regarding the potential impacts on spring and summer streamflow.

Feb 7, 2026 | Climate Matters, February 2026 Newsletter, Flooding and Streamflow

Just how big were the December 2025 floods?

This month we’d like to take a break from the news about the snow drought and look back at flooding that happened in December. Many agencies, utilities, and other managers are taking stock of the flooding now that it’s behind us.

Aerial photo of the Sauk Skagit confluence.

Jan 13, 2026 | Climate Matters, Climate Review, Drought and Soil Conditions, Flooding and Streamflow, January 2026 Newsletter, Rain and Snow

December 8-11, 2025 Heavy Rainfall and Flooding: Historical Context and a Note on Snow Drought

Event recap
Major flooding impacted western Washington and the eastern Cascades last month. Impacts included numerous washouts and landslides on roadways including a weeks-long shutdown of US-2 and lane closures on I-90.

A photograph of a CoCoRaHS rain gauge. The gauge is attached to a 4-6 foot wood pole located in an open field. Dark storm clouds are brewing in the background.

Dec 6, 2025 | Climate Matters, December 2025 Newsletter, Drought and Soil Conditions, Rain and Snow

Climate Matters: The CoCoRaHS Rain Gauge Network and a Tale of Two Hydrologic Extremes

On November 14-15, 2021, 4.67” of rain fell at Bellingham International Airport, setting a new record for that location. This storm brought with it the most devastating flood that Whatcom County has seen in decades.

Nov 7, 2025 | Climate Matters, Climate Review, Drought and Soil Conditions, November 2025 Newsletter, Rain and Snow, Temperature

Climate Matters: Water Year 2025 in Review

Water year 2025 is complete, and it’s time to take a look back and see how WA stacked up historically. The 2025 water year includes the 12 months from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, as opposed to the usual calendar year.

Oct 7, 2025 | Climate Matters, Climate Variability, El Niño/La Niña and Global Climate Oscillations, October 2025 Newsletter

Climate Matters: Haven’t there been a lot of La Niña winters lately?

Many regular readers of this column are aware of the effects of La Niña, and variations in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in general, on the overall weather of the Pacific Northwest during the cool season.