Climate Impacts Group

Emergency drought declared for parts of central Washington due to low snowpack

Environmental officials in our state are warning that a big part of our state’s economy is facing a tough summer with not enough water. Karin Bumbaco is quoted on snowpack decline.  

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.

New research to measure WA’s climate resilience

New paper provides framework for states to measure and improve community resilience in a changing climate

Researchers from the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group and the University of South Carolina’s Hazards Vulnerability and Resilience Institute (with support from co-authors at The Pew Charitable Trust, and the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative),  developed a new paper, State Strategies for Measuring Resilience: A Comparative Study of South Carolina and Washington’s Approaches.

Third straight year of snowpack drought raises water supply, wildfire concerns

While the statewide snowpack sits above normal, a third straight year of snowpack drought hits the Central Cascades, with the Northern stretches of the Washington Mountain range to not be far behind. State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger was quoted and snowpack research from the Climate Impacts Group was mentioned.  

Susan Dickerson-Lange Joins UW Climate Impacts Group as the New Director

The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) has named Susan Dickerson-Lange as its new director. In her role, Dickerson-Lange will provide strategic leadership for CIG, driving financial stewardship and fundraising while supporting the team to deepen partnerships and expand offerings advancing climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest.

Port Gardner Storage Facility will allow Everett to meet state outflow requirements

The facility will temporarily store combined sewer and wastewater during storm events, protecting the bay from untreated releases. A study by the UW Climate Impacts Group is mentioned.  

Yakima Drought Continues as Low Reservoirs Threaten Agriculture

Snowpack is a crucial component of Washington’s water system, particularly in Yakima, where it acts as a natural reservoir, storing moisture during the wet season to be used in drier months. Last year’s low snowpack led to a drought emergency, and the state is still facing drought conditions. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is mentioned.

Statewide drought to projected to continue

The Washington State Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are expressing concerns for the 2025 agricultural year after an Autumn with little rainfall and a Winter with little snow pack. Temperature and precipitation findings by the Washington State Climate Office are mentioned.