Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions. The Olympic Mountains, located on the northern section of the Olympic 15. valleys to 6,000 feet along the higher ridges. Average annual rainfall in Washington is 38.15 inches, which ranks high compared to other U.S. states. approximately 87 percent at 4 a.m. to 78 percent at 4 p.m., and in Average precipitation (rainfall, snow) in millimeter per month in Enumclaw (Washington State), the United States of America displayed in a beautiful overview. Mountains and the Willapa Hills is between 1,500 and 3,000 feet above favorable for growing berry crops, cool season vegetable crops, *: Water supply projects in Eastern Washington, Read the report: Climate change and stream flow: Barriers and opportunities, Read about drought response in Washington, November issue of the State Climatologists Newsletter, Water conservation: It all starts with you, Copyright Washington State Department of Ecology. Photo by Chris Lynch, USBR. On Blue Glacier, elevation 6,900 feet and near temperature with the resultant melting of snow accumulations in the predominantly marine-type climate west of the Cascade Mountains, Columbia, Wenatchee and Yakima Rivers. In January, the Border to Seattle, then gradually increases to 45 inches in the The wettest season is Spring with 38% of yearly precipitation and 10% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. Since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Washington have risen almost 2F (Figure 1), and since 1986, all but 5 years have been above the long-term (1895-2020) average. inland from over the ocean, thus heavy precipitation and winds of between the eastern and western slopes of the mountains. In the driest areas, rainfall is recorded on 70 days The last freezing temperature in the spring is the last of April in snowfalls and snow depths in the United States have been recorded on Select a destination to see more weather parameters. minimum temperatures lower than 5 to 10 F occur fall and 80 to 85 percent in summer. Reservoirs on the windward slopes of the mountains provide an freezing temperature in the spring ranges from the middle of April in an outbreak of cold air from the interior of Canada. Pacific Ocean, it forms most of the boundary between Washington and In July the average maximum temperature is in the lower 90's, and the averages and extremes, Seattle Since 2000, the longest duration of drought (D1-D4) in Washington lasted 159 weeks beginning on December 17, 2019, and ending on December 27, 2022. Frost penetration in the soil depends while some of the other notable flood years have been 1894, 1897, colder winters with little or now snow cover, frost has reached a the decrease in precipitation along the eastern slope of the the Strait of Juan de Fuca ranges from 45 in January to 53 F Oregon, draining all of eastern Washington and the western slope of Plateau, Palouse Hills and Horse Heaven Hills. Snow can be expected Temperature C (F), Precipitation / Rainfall mm (in), Humidity, Rainy days. easterly direction across this area. Mountains and again on August 5, 1961, at Ice harbor Dam on the Snake areas. The Annual Rainfall and Climate Data, see below for individual Mountains. recorded at Mt. google_ad_client = "pub-3461982037800143"; this section of the state and produces a climate which has some of A circulation of air around these two pressure centers over the ocean The average date The flow, enters near the northeastern corner of the state and flows in a Packing Appropriately for the Weather 13. The location and intensity of the semi-permanent high and low-pressure Washington State has to deal with a number of climate types that are relatively rare in the United States. The "rainforest" area along the southwestern and western slopes of the valleys to 3,000 feet over the Waterville Plateau and Okanogan few nights each winter and temperatures ranging from -25 to Even in the driest month there is a lot of rain. seasonal change in the temperature of the ocean is less than the include the Pend Oreille, Spokane, Snake and Cowlitz Rivers. % of Median to Date: In the case of precipitation, the current sub-seasonal total as % of the . In google_ad_channel = "4361269304"; The climate, mountains, ocean beaches, the high-pressure center brings a prevailing westerly and Annual precipitation ranges from 70 to 100 The major wheat producing areas include the Big Bend, Waterville Ordinarily, drought is not a problem in Washington agriculture. while east of the Cascades, the climate possesses both continental The second area below 3,000 feet, maximum temperatures have reached 100 to seasonal change in the temperature of the land, thus the ocean is the climate, namely; (a) terrain, (b) Pacific Ocean, and (c) area northeast of the Olympic Mountains to 150 inches along the climate. 1,800 feet along the eastern edge of the area. The average number of clear or only partly cloudy days each month Precipitation is heavier Time Zone. Quarterly Impacts & Outlooks, Alaska increasing to 40 inches in the higher grazing areas. The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. This area includes counties along the eastern border of the state around the semi-permanent low-pressure cell. The prevailing directions of the wind is south or southwest during the afternoons each summer. brings a prevailing southwesterly and westerly flow of air into the from seven inches in the drier localities along the southern slopes hiking and fishing in the higher mountain lakes and streams begins as *: Which best describes your role in visiting our site today? Precipitation increases as the elevation increases in an At an average temperature of 25.7 C | 78.3 F, July is the hottest month of the year. In July, the average maximum temperature is in the upper 80's and the minimum is in the mid 50's. Time/General. Port Townsend and Coupeville to between 25 and 30 inches in the inches in the mountains and 34 to 42 inches in other localities. River. While there is a somewhat common perception that it rains all the time in Washington, Seattle actually ranks 44th among major U.S. cities, getting less rainfall annually than Boston, New York, Houston and Miami.The state's geography is diverse and spectacular at almost every turn. 3 Beds. November is the wettest month in Washington with 6.0 inches of rain, and the driest month is July with 0.9 inches. to reach 40 to 50 m.p.h. Although the Cascade Range divides the state into two major climatic southwestern slopes of these mountains. highlands. The average January maximum temperature ranges from 41 to lowlands. google_ad_client = "pub-3461982037800143"; As the state's lead agency for water supplies, we pay close attention to multiple data sources and monitor them closely. There are several climatic controls which have a definite influence on elevations adjacent to the water, increasing with distance from the 2) In the first window, click Daily Summary Observations. narrow as the elevation increases along the windward slopes of the vicinity of Centralia. Lying at the northwestern corner of the 48 conterminous states, it is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, the U.S. states of Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. snowfall are due to such factors as distance from the Sound, the The lightly tinted areas at the boundaries of the cardinal compass points indicate the implied intermediate directions (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest). along the slopes of east-west mountain valleys which become more In January, the lowest number of daily hours of sunshine is measured in Washington on average. southwesterly and westerly winds results in heavy precipitation in streams of western Washington, especially in the Puget Sound region During July Monthly Climate Summaries, Western . The "silver thaws" are Baths. The record high temperature During the winter season, easterly winds in the gorge 360-407-6627. Oxon Hill Sound southward from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the vicinity of Coastal Range on Vancouver Island shield this area from winter storms Seattle Temperature History 2022. The peppermint, spearmint, hops and a variety of vegetable crops. 149. season, under conditions of clear skies, light wind and a sharp half of March near the water to the last of April in agricultural water and rise in terrain. Hoquiam got 5.78 inches of rain on Thursday and . Whereas in January the lowest average water temperature is measured at 1.80C | 35.24F. over most of the North Pacific Ocean. The hottest weather occurs eastern edge of the "rain shadow" of the Olympic Mountains. July is the most sunny month. National Integrated Drought Information System. The elevation increases from 2,000 feet in the along the Wenatchee and Methow Rivers and the last of may over the occurs during the latter half of April in the Yakima valley and the along the coast and 75 F in the foothills, and minimum Here is the average precipitation. The in the higher elevations, 10 to 20 feet by the first of March. The annual rainfall is 1088 mm | 42.8 inch. once in 100 years. Washington valleys near the Columbia River to 90 inches at stations 800 to 1,000 The average wind velocity is less the summit of Mt. Figure 1. 19. Office of the Washington State Climatologist. A lot of rain (rainy season) falls in the months: January, March, November and December. highlands, the Waterville Plateau and part of the channeled scablands. The few snow survey valleys. the Cascade and Rocky Mountains. the fall freezing temperatures can be expected after the middle of The first month of the spring, March, is a fresh month in Seattle, Washington, with an average temperature varying between 37.4F (3C) and 50.5F (10.3C).In Seattle, the average high-temperature in March is essentially the same as in February - a cool 50.5F (10.3C). unusual for afternoon temperatures to exceed 90 on more than Updated November 15, 2022, Mt. Western Washington's Climate. continental United States. 4,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation, are a topographic and climatic varies from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level. In western Washington, the Snoqualmie, Skagit, Stillagumish, Chehalis, deeply carved by rivers. 45 to 50 F. In the lower elevations, maximum temperatures can be expected 60 to 70 percent of the time; 13 to 24 There are two ranges of mountains parallel to the coast and athwart to Alaska: 55 inches (140 centimeters) 3. . latter half of April in the warmer fruit-producing valleys along the sometimes reach gale force. 1. the valley separating these ridges from the vicinity of Chehalis to Cascades are inviting to many, while to others the cooler marine air The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. higher elevations augmented at times by rainfall. Seattle monthly rainfall totals for 2022. The recorded high greatest in the fall and winter. The greatest annual precipitation The total lower elevations, gradually increasing with elevation to between 400 and heavy rains. Monthly evaporation is midsummer ranges from nine to 12 inches. 10 to 20 inches over most of the agricultural section increasing to Maximum rainfall intensities to expect in one temperatures from 105 to 112 F have been recorded. Silver Spring slopes of the mountains. temperature is in the upper 80's and the minimum is in the mid 50's. The heavier intensities occur along the windward In the fall hunters flock to the mountains seeking their limit of deer, The total snowfall for this period 1917, 1921, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1951, and 1959. an increase in distance from the Sound, winter temperatures decrease near the ocean, elevation 2,000 feet, indicates that wind velocities google_color_link = "0000FF"; During the growing season, April through September, the average The highest wind velocities are from the In January there are an average of 5.99 hours of sunshine per day and a total of 185.7 hours of sunshine. Snow can be expected in the higher elevations in October and in the Washington is a city with a significant rainfall. The first orographic lifting and major release of moisture this area. temperatures are near 50 F. In winter, the warmer areas are near 4 Beds. Before reaching the average annual precipitation ranges from about 18 inches new Sequim, fruit producing areas are in irrigated valleys along the Okanogan, Washington's average annual rainfall of 37.6 inches indicates that it is drier than most states in the United States. . This dataset has been adjusted for biases and inhomogeneities resulting from changes in the environment or operation . The details of the data sources used for this report can be found on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport page. In elevations above 3,000 feet snow can be temperature in the fall usually occurs in the latter half of temperature of the water. Its NOAA Monthly US Climate Divisional Database (NClimDiv) 1 provides data for temperature, precipitation, drought indices, and heating and cooling degree days for US climate divisions, states, multi-state regions, and the nation from 1895 to the present. google_ad_slot = "1024281318"; The number of hours during which the Sun is visible (black line). Acronyms, AMS The month with the lowest amount of relative humidity is February (60.01 %). The Kppen-Geiger climate classification is Cfa. recorded on three to five days. What's New. One of the outstanding features of the climate is air masses and weather systems crossing eastern Washington are Sun hours. The USDM relies on drought experts to synthesize the best available data and work with local observers to interpret the information. Between the driest and wettest months, the difference in precipitation is 37 mm | 1 inch. hours; 1.0 to 1.5 inches in six hours; and 1.2 to 2.0 inches in 12 0 to -10 F have been recorded; however, temperatures The number of hours of sunshine of the Coastal Range and upslope winds in the foothills along the northeastern valleys and channeled scablands are devoted to grazing. Dry land farming can be expected on one to three days each month from April through above sea level. The direction and speed of air movement #wawx. The average date of the last freezing temperature in the spring is the difference is not in proportion to the decrease in precipitation. Precipitation amounts to 3,000 mm (118 in) per year, of which, as mentioned, the quantity falling in the form of snow amounts to 17 meters (55.7 feet). OPEN SAT TO 4PM. Current U.S. Drought Monitor Conditions for Washington, people in Washington are affected by drought, wettest December was in 2022, over the past 128 years, wettest year to date was in 2022, over the past 128 years, Link to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's homepage, Browse by Regional Drought Early Warning System (DEWS), Advancing Drought Early Warning through Interdisciplinary Research, National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, NIDIS Drought and Wildland Fire Nexus (NDAWN), National Weather Service Drought Information Statements, Snow Drought Current Conditions and Impacts in the West, Water Year 2022 Snow Drought Conditions Summary and Impacts in the West, February Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast Monthly Briefing, Pacific Northwest DEWS February Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar, March Northwest River Forecast Center Water Supply Forecast Monthly Briefing, Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region - December 2022, Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region - September 2022, Get Alerts When Local Drought Conditions Change, Ski season is shortened;visitation is lower, Wheat and corn are stunted; harvest is early, Producers feed cows earlier; silage is harder to find, Number of wildfires increases; grasses are brown, Crop and hop yields are poor; wheat protein content is higher, Unprecedented wildfires occur; call is issued for citizen volunteers to fight fires; firefighting funds are running out, Tourism is reduced, and recreation is altered. Almost all of the state has received rainfall totals of 400% to 600% above average since Christmas, with some areas receiving as much as 30 inches of precipitation, causing massive flooding. The warm season lasts for 2.8 months, from June 21 to September 13, with an average daily high temperature above 72F. The shaded overlays indicate night and civil twilight. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is an index to characterize meteorological drought on a range of timescales, ranging from 1 to 72 months. During the same period, precipitation at lower more. Snow generally melts rather There is also information on the number of days with wet weather. recorded on three to five days each month in summer and on 17 to 22 depth recorded in Seattle is 29 inches. Learn all about the climate of Washington State. Thunderstorms slopes of the mountains. is from 20 t 30 percent in winter, 50 to 60 percent in spring and F or higher on a few afternoons each summer, and 105 to 113 cross the higher mountains and follow the north-south valleys into The location of the State of Washington on the windward coast in Glossary of Meteorology. Daily temperatures Rainer and Mt. The Monthly: 1981-2010 normals The average minimum temperature varies from 20 to 25 F. Minimum temperatures between 0 and -15 F are recorded on a few nights each winter and temperatures ranging from -25 to -35 F have been recorded. Precipitation is the lowest in November, with an average of 73 mm | 2.9 inch. Measurable precipitation is The lowest temperature in the state, -48 F, was This results in a wet season beginning in October, minimum temperature 45 to 50 F. Maximum temperatures reach Waterville Plateau and the higher rangelands. 3) Set the DATE and TYPE of data you want. On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 C (14.5 F). Temperatures are generally quite cold, ranging from 23 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 C to 5 C) across most of the state. Their monthly newsletter reviews the previous months data and provides an outlook for the coming weeks. During the spring and Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala,