The following article was written by Michael Fagin. Fagin is an operational meteorologist providing weather forecasts to clients in the Pacific Northwest and providing custom forecasts for groups climbing Mt. Everest and other major peaks. Fagin is also a travel writer with a focus on weather and wine. Read other articles by Fagin here. 

In our most recent update, we discussed weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest from early April through mid-June. Here, we look at recent temperature and precipitation trends since that time in the Columbia Valley and Willamette Valley. We also look at current drought conditions and what might be in store for us this fall into the early part of winter.

Recent temperature trends

Washington

First, let’s look at temperatures from the beginning of mid-June to early October. The map below is for the Tri-Cities area in Washington. (NOAA is the source.) The dark blue bars in the chart below represent observations, while the brown colors indicate the average temperature range. Record heat is the red line above, and record cold is the blue line below.

For much of this time, there were brief periods that alternated between above average, average, and below average. We did not have any extended periods of above average temperatures. Finally, we did not experience any record heat or cold conditions.

Growing Degree Days (GDD), a measure of heat accumulation, were above the long-term average, as shown in the map below. The green line is GDD for this year, and the brown line is the average. (GDD is calculated by subtracting a base temperature of 50 degrees from the average daily temperature and summing the positive differences over time.)

Oregon

For the Willamette Valley, represented below,

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