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Long, Warm Summer On Tap, According To Weather Service Outlook

NOAA Climate Prediction Center

This summer in the Pacific Northwest will be warmer than average, according to the National Weather Service.

The supercomputers at the Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center have crunched long-term trends to produce an outlook for June, July and August. For most of the Northwest, the forecast gives a strong probability of above-normal temperatures.

Seattle-based meteorologist Johnny Burg says the trend is strongest along the West Coast and becomes less pronounced as you go inland to Idaho.

"Usually our summers here are pretty warm and dry compared to the weather patterns throughout the year. What the CPC is saying is that we are looking at maybe having warmer than normal temperatures for this summer,” Burg said.

The summer outlook for rainfall is neutral for the Pacific Northwest, but calls for above average rainfall chances in the central Rockies. There's no drought relief in sight for parched rangelands in southern Oregon and southwest Idaho.

The Climate Prediction Center notes a transition to El Niño conditions is under way in the tropical Pacific. That global weather phenomenon is not driving the forecast for a warmer than normal summer here. Burg explains "there is usually a lag" before El Niño's effects can be seen in the local weather here in the Northwest.

Correspondent Tom Banse is an Olympia-based reporter with more than three decades of experience covering Washington and Oregon state government, public policy, business and breaking news stories. Most of his career was spent with public radio's Northwest News Network, but now in semi-retirement his work is appearing on other outlets.