July 2025 Drought and Streamflow Update
Streamflow continues to run well below normal in July 2025. The majority of basins are experiencing below normal (orange) or much below normal (red) streamflow. A few basins in northern Washington are experiencing record low flow.
Read moreJuly 2025 Notable Weather Events
July brought frequent warm spells across the state. In western Washington, July 16 brought the hottest temperatures of the season so far for most. On this day, SeaTac reached a high temperature of 94°F, and Seattle Sand Point WFO reached 95°F, breaking the previous daily record at Sand Point of 89°F set on July 16, 2018.
Read moreWebinar Registration open for Planning for Heat in the Puget Sound Region
The Puget Sound Climate Preparedness Collaborative is hosting a Planning for Heat in the Puget Sound Region webinar on August 12 from 2-3:30 pm PST.
Karin Bumbaco, WASCO’s Deputy State Climatologist, will be presenting on the new June 2021 heat wave synthesis paper, along with presenters from the Washington State Department of Health, Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources, and King County.
Mid July Climate Outlook
What’s Next for the Pacific Northwest?
Warmer and drier than normal conditions will likely persist through August
The CPCs one month outlook for August 2025 indicates elevated chances of above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
A New Paper Synthesizing Studies on the June 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Wave Now Available
The June issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS) featured a new paper synthesizing over 70 articles on the record-breaking June 2021 Pacific Northwest (PNW) heat wave. I am a co-author on the article, collaborating with experts at Oregon State University and Portland State University.
Read moreJune 2025 Drought and Streamflow Update
Warm and very dry conditions in June 2025 contributed to worsening drought conditions and declining streamflow statewide. June streamflow has dropped below normal as indicated on the monthly streamflow percentile map, courtesy of the USGS Water Watch.
Read moreEarly July Climate Outlook
ENSO-neutral conditions are still very likely to continue through the summer and early fall according to the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). Neutral conditions typically do not play a large role in determining our average summer weather, so the outlooks discussed below are determined mostly from seasonal forecast models.
Read moreJune 2025 Notable Weather Events
June 2025 was a relatively dry and warm month statewide (read the June Climate Summary for a more detailed discussion of anomalies).
The first 10 days of the month featured a gradually strengthening ridge of high pressure across the region.
June 2025 Climate Summary
June was the third consecutive month with below normal precipitation statewide in Washington. June 2025 ranked in the top 10 driest Junes on record back to 1895. Statewide, precipitation averaged well below the 1991-2020 statewide average of 1.93”.
Read moreAnnouncing the PNW Climate Ambassadors: Building Capacity for Public Climate Conversations
How do scientists develop confidence and experience having conversations with the general public around climate science, global and local impact, and solutions when their areas of expertise are in a disciplinary science such as oceanography or urban planning?
Read more