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| Media Coverage

Wildfires are increasingly common in Western WA. Here’s what to expect this year

Low winter snowpack has led to increased fire potential across eastern Washington in June and July. Washington State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger is quoted.  

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| Media Coverage

Statewide drought declared due to dismal snowpack

After a warm winter left Washington’s mountains largely bare this spring, the Washington Department of Ecology issued a statewide emergency drought declaration as projected water supplies are likely to fall far short of the state’s summer demand. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted. 

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| Media Coverage

4th WA drought emergency. ‘No way to sugarcoat’ power, fish and fire risks

The entire state of Washington was declared in a drought emergency Wednesday as state officials nervously eyed an unusually low snowpack and a likely hotter and drier than usual spring and summer ahead. At the heart of the declaration is the Yakima River basin, which is in a drought emergency for a fourth year in a row. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.  

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| Media Coverage

WA declares unprecedented fourth drought emergency in a row

This year the snowpack sits at about half its normal levels and it’s melting early. This has been the state’s third-warmest winter on record, meaning that moisture is increasingly falling as rain rather than snow. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is mentioned.  

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| Media Coverage

Northwest starts to feel the heat following un-snowy winter

The Northwest has had plenty of precipitation, but too much of it fell as rain instead of snow for a plentiful snowpack to develop. October through December 2025 was the warmest such three-month period on record in Washington. The Washington State Climate Office is mentioned. 

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| Media Coverage

WSDOT has begun clearing North Cascades Highway; weather has helped so far

Road damage and rockslides caused by heavy rain in the passes along Highway 20 will take time to remove and repair, even though the snowpack in the North Cascades is about 75% of normal. The Washington State Climate Office is mentioned. 

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| Media Coverage

Study: Pacific Northwest needs to prepare for extreme heat events

A new study published by the Northwest Adaptation Science Center synthesizes management responses to the 2021 extreme heat event. Climate Impacts Group Research Scientist Eva Colberg is quoted. 

  

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| Media Coverage

After a glimpse of hope, WA’s snowpack dips back into the red

Snowpack declined during an early season snowmelt event across Washington, reducing snowpack back near record-low levels. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is mentioned. 

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| Media Coverage

There’s an El Niño watch. Here’s how it could affect Western Washington weather

An El Niño watch for the fall was issued in early March, raising concerns about the warm and dry pattern exacerbating current drought conditions, which have been amplified by this past winter’s low snowpack. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted. 

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| Media Coverage

UW and DRCC release ‘Living With Water’ report

In January 2026, the Duwamish River Community Coalition (DRCC) and the UW Center for Disaster Resilient Communities (CDRC) released a report 18 months in the making regarding nature-based strategies to address flooding in Duwamish River communities. The project, entitled “Living With Water,” used community-based research strategies to identify nature-based solutions to flooding that align with community needs. The Climate Impacts Group was a partner on this project.

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