Climate Impacts Group

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. 

Seattle just had the warmest week in January on record 

Seattle’s average temperature in the past week was 53.8 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, that was the warmest seven-day period between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1 on record since 1984. Resources from the Climate Impacts Group and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist are referenced. 

Now Hiring: Washington State Climatologist

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist and the Climate Impacts Group are hiring a State Climatologist to lead the activities of the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. 

APPLY NOW 

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist serves as a credible and expert source of climate and weather information for the state of Washington. They specialize in analyzing weather and climate trends within the broader context of climate change, and disseminating this information through presentations, media interviews, committee participation and more. The Office’s newly-released strategic plan outlines four strategic goals in support of their mission: 1) provide reputable climate data and interpretation, 2) broaden climate services through targeted engagement, 3) coproduce new applied climate research, and 4) acquire resources for the sustainability of the Office. 

Washington State Climate Office releases new strategic plan

The Washington State Climate Office (formerly called the Office of the Washington State Climatologist) has released a new strategic plan to guide their future work. Among several key priorities, the strategic plan emphasizes engaging with decision makers and communities and co-producing applied research. 

Building off of their long history of providing climate data and information for local and state governments, communities, tribes and other organizations, the Washington State Climate Office will develop new long-term partnerships with priority stakeholders, help build capacity among key partners and cultivate applied and multi-disciplinary research collaborations. The Office will also explore new avenues of funding to help grow and sustain themselves over the long-term.  

WA snowpack starts off strong, but El Niño warming looms

Much of Washington is accumulating snowpack faster than normal so far this fall, a small victory for a state plagued by drought all summer. The trend isn’t expected to continue, climatologists say. Early snowpack data is limited and winter doesn’t officially begin for yet another month. Karin Bumbaco, Washington deputy state climatologist, and Guillaume Mauger, a research scientist at the UW Climate Impacts Group, are quoted in this article from the Seattle Times.