Climate Impacts Group

Climate Impacts Group releases new strategic plan

The Climate Impacts Group has released a new strategic plan to guide the next five years of our work. Among several key priorities, the strategic plan reflects a commitment to centering equity in climate adaptation, with particular attention to environmental justice and community resilience. 

This commitment to equity will shape our approach to all of our work. We will be organizing our work into four priorities — action-oriented research, decision making, capacity-building and communications. An additional fifth priority — fundraising — is crucial to ensuring CIG can deliver greater impact across our first four strategic priorities.

“This marks a really important moment for the Climate Impacts Group,” Jason Vogel, interim director of the Climate Impacts Group, says. 

What one of Seattle’s hottest starts to July means for the rest of summer

After a rather cool June, July began with a ravenous desire to make up ground, kick-starting summer conditions across Western Washington with over a week of above-average temperatures, the hottest day since the hottest day ever in 2021 and record daytime and overnight highs. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.  

Special Edition Drought Status Update for Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations

Report summarizing current conditions, outlook, and takeaways regarding snowpack, heat, and drought as it applies to tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest. Washington State Deputy Climatologist is a co-author.  

‘Most of our snow is already gone,’ Washington climatologist says; recent heat wave had little impact

The recent spate of hot weather sent many Clark County residents scrambling to find a cool escape. However, the soaring temperatures had little impact on snowpack melt coming from the mountains. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted. 

Meet the Rare, ‘Beautiful’ Birds That Thrive in Snow and Are at Risk Because of Climate Change

The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan is specialized to dwell in high alpine environments—that is to say, it thrives in cold weather. But as the planet heats up because of human-caused climate change, these birds are in trouble. Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hopes to protect them from that fate by listing them as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The federal agency announced its decision this month, citing climate change as the primary reason. Nick Bond, Emeritus State Climatologist, is quoted.  

Case Study: An Early Drought Declaration Gave Washington Communities Opportunity To Prepare

A drought declaration earlier this spring opened up funding to eligible public entities in Washington to respond to more intense drought conditions before they arrived this summer. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is a co-author.  

A costly cool: Seattle residents turn to AC during heat wave

With Puget Sound region temperatures in the 90s, box fans aren’t cutting it. Residents are turning to something that was once as un-Seattle as umbrellas and honking in traffic: air conditioning. Jason Vogel, interim director of the UW Climate Impacts Group, is quoted. 

Washington snowpack already mostly melted heading into heat wave.

High temperatures across Washington will contribute to fire danger, elevate temperatures in streams and have an impact on wildlife, but they won’t likely play a major role in melting snowpack because so much of it is already gone by this time of year. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.  

Welcoming our EarthLab Summer Interns

The Climate Impacts Group is excited to welcome four UW undergraduate students to our team this summer! Caroline Hale, Lupita Ocampo, Anusriya Rahman Ornie and Cora Schultz are joining our team through the EarthLab Summer Internship program. Learn more about each of these students:  

Caroline Hale 

Climate Justice Academy Curriculum & Coordination Intern

Caroline Hale (she/her) is a rising senior at the University of Washington, double majoring in Environmental Studies and Sociology. Her interests converge at the intersection of the natural world, biological sciences and sociological perspectives. Throughout her academic journey, Caroline has had the opportunity to work in collaboration with faculty members on research projects related to her degrees and is eager to leverage these experiences to support research in the Climate Impacts Group. 

GHC among WA colleges sharing $9.3 million to build a climate-ready workforce

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) will receive a $9.3 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop a climate-ready workforce. The UW Climate Impacts Group and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist are partners in this program.