@wastateclimate.bsky.social
Official Washington State Climate Office at the University of Washington account. Visit our website: https://climate.uw.edu/
The 2015 snow drought was truly historic with much more widespread and severe deficits in most places than we are currently experiencing. Here is the April 1, 2015 SWE % of median map (left) and the current February 17, 2026 SWE % of normal map (right). [Note the color shading is a bit different].
18.02.2026 20:19 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Graph of SWE for the PNW showing 2026 SWE is near SWE levels during the 2015 snow drought.
This graph shows 2026 SWE (solid black line) and 2015 SWE (solid turquoise line) for WA+OR+ID.
In the Pacific Northwest as a whole we are near 2015 levels, although we will likely continue to see some improvement in current SWE relative to 2015 over the next week or two.
Image announcing the 2026 Summer Internship Program. The photo reads "Apply your passion and skills towards finding equitable environmental solutions"
The EarthLab Summer Internship Program is back!
WASCO is looking for an intern to help us highlight successful climate adaptation case studies across Washington. 9 weeks of paid, hands-on work, mentorship + a community of peers across disciplines.
📅 Apply by 2/17!
👉 bit.ly/ELIntern26
Roughly 44% of our median April 1 SWE comes after January 20. This number drops to only 34% by February 1.
Given our dry forecast in the short-term, opportunities to makeup our snowpack deficit are shrinking quickly. We need an abnormally snowy end to winter to end up with normal snowpack.
Our snowiest months are typically December and January.
Here's the average change in SWE by month, statewide:
October: +0.3"
Nov: +4.0"
❄️Dec: +7.5"
❄️Jan: +7.5"
Feb: +5.6"
Mar: +4.4"
Source: nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/awdb/basin-p...
Current SWE across Washington sub-basins. Snowpack is largely near or below 50% of normal for this point in the winter.
Most basins have below 50% of normal snowpack. We need a steady train of storms every few days to just keep our snowpack near normal in January, and recent dry weather has not been kind to our snowpack.
Q: Can we make up this snowpack gap by spring?
It is possible, but increasingly unlikely....
Map of above normal temperatures in December 2025. Source: Climate Toolbox https://climatetoolbox.org/tool/Climate-Mapper
Map of wetter than normal conditions in December 2025. Source: Climate Toolbox https://climatetoolbox.org/tool/Climate-Mapper
Our January Newsletter is here!🗞️
In this month's newsletter we discuss record warm December temperatures 🌡️, a recap of the December floods 💧 and wet conditions, and an update on low snowpack conditions across much of the state ❄️
🔗 climate.uw.edu/news/categor...
Photo collage of NW CASC research fellows in the field.
🔥 🌲 ⛰️ ❄️ 🦫 🌊 🦀 🐝 It's that time of year again! Grad students & postdocs doing #ClimateChange research @ BSU, OSU, PSU, UM, UW, WSU and WWU — You can now APPLY for NW CASC's 2026-27 Research Fellowship Program, supporting research+training in actionable sci! Deadline Mar 9 bit.ly/45RnoHC
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Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) by basin as of midnight on the night of December 8. SWE is well below normal in the central and southern Cascades and the Olympics.
Atmospheric rivers tend to be fairly warm, meaning precipitation tends to fall as rain, even in our mountains.
As round two moves in today, we aren't likely to see much improvement in our mountain snowpack as unseasonably warm temperatures continue.
Map from:
🔗 www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/da...
The change in SWE at SNOTEL stations from midnight on December 7th to midnight on December 8th. Green and yellow values denote little change or even slight losses in SWE.
It was quite the rainy day across western Washington yesterday, but this event is not shaping up to be a big snow producer in the mountains.
SWE at mountain stations from midnight on the 7th to midnight on the 8th (last night) shows little change.
Data from 🔗 www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/da...
The deadline to fill out the PNW Water Year 2025 survey was extended to Friday, December 12th! ☀️🌧️
If you experienced impacts from abnormally dry or wet conditions anytime from 10/1/2024 – 9/30/2025, we'd love to hear from you!
🔗 Take the survey: uwashington.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/divisional/mapping
Map of September 2025 Temperature rankings by WA Climate Division. Record warm temperatures occurred across eastern Washington and Puget Sound.
24.11.2025 18:37 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Graph of statewide September average temperatures 1895-2025. There is a general warming trend over the time period of around 0.3ºF per decade and September 2025 was the warmest September on record by a decent margin. Source: NCEI https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series
Now that NCEI data is flowing again, it is time to take a look at just how warm September 2025 was statewide:
September was the warmest September in WA back to at least 1895! Temperatures were +5.2ºF above normal statewide for the month.
Source: NCEI Climate at a Glance
Photograph of pivot irrigation underway over a dry field with virga overhead. Virga is rainfall that evaporates before it reached the surface, leaving visible streaks or rain shafts in the air.
The November Newsletter is here!
Read on for a statewide recap of the 2025 Water Year, weather and climate conditions in October, and a look at the seasonal outlook for the next 3 months.
climate.uw.edu/news/categor...
The longest streak at SeaTac is 586 days (1976-01-15 through 1977-08-22), and the 2nd longest is 582 days (1993-03-23 through 1994-10-25).
27.10.2025 20:23 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Table of the longest streaks in SeaTac history.
SeaTac Airport reported 1.04" of rainfall on Friday, October 24th ending SeaTac's impressive 546-day streak of daily total rainfall below 1.00".
This was the third longest streak on record (records began at SeaTac in 1945).
We completed #Mesonet site #59 last week in Poulsbo, WA! This is our sole location in Kitsap County. #wawx
24.10.2025 15:35 — 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Scatter plot of September 2025 temperature and precipitation relative to all Septembers back to 1979. Source: https://climatetoolbox.org/tool/historical-climate-scatter
Our October 2025 Newsletter is now live! September was likely the warmest September on record, and statewide drought continues. La Niña conditions are now in effect, and wetter than normal conditions are expected Oct.-Dec.
Read about recent and upcoming conditions:
climate.uw.edu/news/categor...
A flooded road with “road closed” sign at point where water is crossing the street.
Happy October & Flood Awareness Month! Join us with @emd.wa.gov @oicwa.bsky.social & @wadnr.bsky.social this month to learn what flood tricks to look out for and some treats to help you be prepared. Check out our blog about flooding in WA & how to get flood risk maps: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october...
07.10.2025 16:35 — 👍 11 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Decorative banner image for the Annual PNW WY Impacts Survey.
Happy 2026 Water Year! Fill out the PNW Water Year 2025 Impacts Survey to let us know how WA, OR, and ID were impacted by abnormally dry or abnormally wet conditions during the 2025 water year (Oct 1, 2024 - Sep 30, 2025). Open through Nov 26, 2025.
uwashington.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
EVENT RESCHEDULED: This event has been rescheduled to October 16th @ 1pm PT. If you are already registered for this event, your registration will carryover and you should have receive an updated calendar invite for the 16th.
cig.uw.edu/news-and-eve...
Join us on Thurs, Sept. 25th @ 11am PT for a discussion of the resources available for understanding climate risk in the PNW! 🌊🌲🏔️
This is the latest installment of the Our Climate Future webinar series organized by @cig-uw.bsky.social .
Register here: cig.uw.edu/news-and-eve...
Climate Prediction Center October-December Temperature and Precipitation Outlook. Precipitation is most likely to be above normal for this period. Temperatures have equal chances of being below, above, or near-normal.
Odds tilt toward favoring wetter than normal conditions across the state from October-December with greater uncertainty for temperatures.
Sea surface temperatures in the Tropical Pacific continue to cool. La Niña conditions may develop in the next couple of months.
climate.uw.edu/2025/09/18/l...
Read our full September Newsletter:
climate.uw.edu/news/categor...
June-August 2025 precipitation and temperature percentile maps for Washington State, created using ClimateToolbox.org. Darkest brown and red shadings reflect record dry and warm conditions over this period, respectively.
Summer featured record heat and record dryness across large portions of the state. Read our August and Full Summer 2025 Climate Summary to learn more!
climate.uw.edu/2025/09/08/a...
Logo for Valiant near-peer mentoring program featuring a scene of a mountain.
We are recruiting near peer mentors for the Valiant program. We seek one 4th year undergrad & one grad student to serve as mentors. Financial compensation provided. See the link below to learn more & apply. @uwsafs.bsky.social @uwenvironment.bsky.social uwashington.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
26.08.2025 19:48 — 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0A La Niña Watch is in place. What might this mean for the upcoming fall and winter in Washington?
Read our latest Climate Outlook to learn more:
climate.uw.edu/2025/08/21/l...
What can you expect over the next couple of weeks? More persistent summer heat continues statewide.☀️
🌡️Dangerous heat returns late this week and through the weekend.
Then, summertime temperatures stick around in the PNW into early September. The Climate Prediction Center's short term outlooks show above normal temperatures are likely to continue through Sept 4.
Do you live in Skagit or Island County? WSU Extension is offering a new Climate Stewards program with coursework and field trips on local climate topics. This fall session begins September 16th. Scholarships are available!
Learn more and and register now:
wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Our August WASCO Newsletter features a recap of July weather and drought conditions as well as a look ahead at expected conditions over the next few months. Visit our website for more:
🔗 climate.uw.edu/news/categor...
