Climate Impacts Group

Planning for Extreme Heat in Western Washington: Ongoing workshops highlight opportunities for regional collaboration and coordination

Summers in western Washington have historically been quite mild, but extreme heat has become much more common in the past couple of decades. This summer, the Washington State Climate Office (WASCO) participated in three separate extreme heat planning efforts, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES).

Announcing the PNW Climate Ambassadors: Building Capacity for Public Climate Conversations

In Fall 2024, the Program on Climate Change (PCC), and the Washington State Climate Office (WASCO), set out to create a training program that would help develop the capacity for graduate students to do just that, and to serve as a community resource on climate science and solutions.

Announcing the PNW Climate Ambassadors: Building capacity for public climate conversations

How do scientists develop confidence and experience having conversations with the general public around climate science, global and local impact, and solutions when their areas of expertise are in a disciplinary science such as oceanography or urban planning? In Fall 2024, the Program on Climate Change (PCC), and the Washington State Climate Office (WASCO), set out to create a training program that would help develop the capacity for graduate students to do just that, and to serve as a community resource on climate science and solutions.

WA faces drought emergency for a third year after middling snowpack

By Conrad Swanson – Seattle Times

Washington is once more under a drought emergency, state officials announced Tuesday, marking the third such declaration in as many years and underscoring the damage wrought by year-after-year droughts. 

Pacific Northwest 2024 Water Year Impacts Assessment Released

The fifth Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment, released today, presents a detailed examination of seasonal climate conditions across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho for the 2024 water year (October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024). The Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment is produced through a collaboration between the Washington State Climate Office, the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington, Oregon Climate Service, Idaho Department of Water Resources, and is funded by the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). The assessment integrates climate data, sector-specific surveys, and community-reported impacts to provide a holistic picture of how water year conditions influence the region.

Washington State Climate Office Launches New Website, Advancing Strategic Goals

Seattle, Wash. – The Washington State Climate Office (WASCO) has officially launched a new website and introduced an updated visual identity, marking a significant step forward in the Office’s ongoing evolution. This milestone comes nearly a year after the release of WASCO’s strategic plan and demonstrates a continued commitment to expanding climate services, strengthening science communication and community engagement, and supporting informed decision-making in the pursuit of state-wide and regional climate resilience using historical climate data and seasonal forecasts.

WASCO has undergone several major transitions over the past year. These include adopting a new name, welcoming Guillaume Mauger as the new State Climatologist, and expanding its team. 

Video: Talking about climate and weather with the Washington State Climate Office

A look inside Washington State Climate Office, featuring State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger and Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco. 

Register Today for Water Year 2024 Recap & 2025 Outlook Meeting

The 19th annual Oregon-Washington Water Year Meeting: 2024 Recap and 2025 Outlook will be held as two virtual morning meetings. There is no cost to attend but you are required to register. 

The goal of this meeting is to share and gather information regarding climate impacts of the 2024 water year. The warmer than normal winter, lack of Washington snowpack and subsequent drought development, the changing drought conditions in Oregon, and the hot July will be topics of discussion. This meeting will also offer the opportunity to learn from others about mitigation actions that were taken through group discussion. Forecast experts will provide expectations for 2025, including discussion of what the switch to La Niña in the tropical Pacific means for the region.  

WA Welcomes a New State Climatologist

Washington has a new state climatologist. Guillaume Mauger, a research scientist in the UW Climate Impacts Group, succeeds Nick Bond in the role. Mauger is quoted.   

Dr. Guillaume Mauger named Washington State Climatologist

Dr. Guillaume Mauger has been named the next director of the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. Mauger’s appointment began earlier this month. 

Mauger succeeds Dr. Nick Bond, who retired from the role in February after nearly 14 years. Karin Bumbaco, deputy state climatologist, served as interim state climatologist from February to May. 

Currently a research scientist at the Climate Impacts Group, Mauger has 15 years of experience working in climate change impacts and adaptation in the Pacific Northwest with a focus on flooding and water availability.

“Mauger’s deep knowledge of climate impacts in the Northwest and long history working with decision makers, resource managers and community members makes him an excellent choice for the next State Climatologist,” Jason Vogel, interim director of the Climate Impacts Group, says.