Warm, dry summer outlook could fade Washington’s green and raise fire danger

SEATTLE — Sunny skies in Seattle may be giving soccer fans and visitors a picture-perfect look at the Pacific Northwest, but forecasters say the region’s signature green can fade quickly if summer turns hot and dry.

The latest 8-to-14-day outlook from the Climate Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls for normal, or slightly above normal, precipitation for Washington state. Forecasters say that is good news for early summer.

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Temperatures, however, are expected to run warmer than usual in the coming weeks. Government forecasters are projecting a 33% to 40% chance of above-normal temperatures over the next several weeks.

Looking deeper into the summer, NOAA’s outlook for July, August and September calls for a 33% to 50% chance of below-normal precipitation in western Washington.

The National Weather Service also expects a hotter-than-normal summer overall, with a 60% to 70% chance of above-normal temperatures.

With summer now underway, fire danger is also a growing concern. The newest fire danger map from the Washington Department of Natural Resources shows high or very high fire danger in central and eastern Washington. The western half of the state is currently listed at moderate fire danger.

Drought conditions are also showing up in parts of the state. The Washington state drought map from the U.S. Department of Agriculture lists parts of western Washington as abnormally dry. Parts of eastern Washington are in a moderate to severe drought.

Forecasters say the immediate signs do not point to extremely dry conditions in western Washington, but residents should be prepared for hotter weather as summer settles in.