Climate Matters: AgWeatherNet for Climate Resilient Washington Agriculture

Washington’s climate is not uniform, and it is becoming increasingly extreme, particularly during agricultural crop production seasons. Declining mountain snowpack, spring frost, extreme summer heat, and wildfires are becoming the norm. 

Early October Climate Outlook

Key Messages:

El Niño continues to intensify. Positive SST anomalies are currently breaking all-time daily records. 

The 1-month October outlook shows elevated chances of warmer and drier than normal conditions across much of the state. 

October 2026 Drought and Streamflow Update

Key Messages: 

Streamflows in mountain basins continue to run below normal. September rains boosted streamflows across western Washington to near normal at the start of October.

Seasonal precipitation deficits continue to limit monthly streamflows across the state, especially in mountain-fed rivers in the Cascades and Olympics.  

September 2026 Climate Summary

Key Messages: 

September brought cooler and wetter than normal conditions to most of the state. Conditions were especially wet relative to normal across eastern Washington, near Bellingham, and on the Olympic Peninsula.