News | Washington State Climate Office

Jan 3, 2014 | Climate Matters, El Niño/La Niña and Global Climate Oscillations

The Arctic Oscillation and Pacific Northwest Weather

The Arctic Oscillation (AO), also known as the Northern Annular Mode (NAM), is an important element of the variability in the weather and climate of the Northern Hemisphere. It relates fundamentally to the state of the flow at northern latitudes, with the positive phase associated with a strong, axisymmetric polar vortex and the negative phase associated with a weak polar vortex, allowing for more prominent large-scale ridges and troughs for the whole hemisphere.

Dec 3, 2013 | Climate Matters, Drought and Soil Conditions

Causes and Examples of Landslides in WA

Much of Washington state features steep terrain and unconsolidated soils, which means that landslides are a regular part of the landscape. And since many of these slides are associated with heavy rainfall, they occur more often in the winter, with plenty of exceptions.

Nov 4, 2013 | Climate Change Report, Climate Matters

The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has produced a series of reviews of the state of the global climate and its expected changes. Portions of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) from the IPCC have been made available recently.

Oct 2, 2013 | Climate Matters, Clouds and Fog, Seasonal

Early Autumn Fog in WA

Fog may not seem that dramatic of an element of the weather, but it can actually be a big deal and certainly represent a challenge for forecasters. An obvious impact of fog is on aircraft operations.

Sep 9, 2013 | Climate Matters, Ecology, Marine

JISAO’s Seasonal Coastal Ocean Prediction of the Ecosystem (J-SCOPE)

A coastal ocean prediction system, named J-SCOPE, has been recently developed for the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest. J-SCOPE has been designed to provide quantitative forecasts of physical, chemical and biological ocean properties on time horizons of up to 9 months.

Aug 1, 2013 | Climate Matters, Climate Review, Extreme Heat

1934 – The Warmest Year in WA State History

The devastating Dust Bowl drought of the 1930s is one of the most notable weather/climate events in US history. This drought was not restricted to the Great Plains, but instead at times extended across much of the country.

Jul 1, 2013 | Climate Matters, Extreme Heat

Western WA Heat Waves

As we enter the summer months, it is timely to discuss a research paper that was recently published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology (Bumbaco et al. 2013). OWSC collaborated with the Oregon Climate Service at Oregon State University to examine the historical record of heat waves occurring west of the Cascade Mountains in both Washington and Oregon.

Jun 4, 2013 | Climate Matters, Drought and Soil Conditions, Seasonal

Summertime Evapotranspiration in Eastern WA

Evapotranspiration (ET) refers to the total flux of water vapor from the land to the atmosphere. It includes two contributions: (1) evaporation from the ground and (2) the loss of water from plants, or transpiration, primarily through their leaves.

Apr 22, 2013 | Climate Events

A Review of Winter 2012-2013

During September and October 2012, seasonal forecasts were indicating an increased likelihood of a drier and warmer winter than usual in Washington State due to the projected development of an El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Apr 3, 2013 | Climate Matters, Severe Weather

WA State Tornadoes during Spring

The most significant tornado outbreak in Washington State history occurred on 5 April 1972. Clark County was hit particularly hard, with an early afternoon tornado of F3 intensity causing 6 fatalities and injuries to 300 others.