by Mark Biever, L.G., L.E.G.
Environmental Monitoring Program Supervisor for Thurston County
Summer Outlook
Here we are again already in the middle of Summer and things are heating up for the Northwest. Looking at the medium range forecast (30 – 60 days) for our area of the Puget Sound, we are shaping up to be on the dry side. It is becoming more common in the past ten years that our summers are getting hotter, drier and longer. This is what the climate models have predicted for our area and it seems to be following the script closely. The summer of 2018 is predicted to be warmer than average and very dry, in fact, we are predicted to be in the drought territory by the end of July. At this point it does not appear to be as severe as the 2015 drought, but it is well under way and we won’t know its extent until fall. Even the 4th of July was rain free.
Climate Matters 