Can fall 2025 get Washington out of its dry streak?

Natalie Akane Newcomb

KUOW Staff

September 09, 2025 / 3:39 pm

While many start their calendars in January, weather nerds and climatologists consider October the start of the "water year." That's when they start measuring water conditions — rainfall, snowpack, and basin levels — over 12 months.

As Washington approaches the end of the current water year, one thing is certain: It's dry out there, and it will take a lot of rain to turn things around.

"Particularly this spring and summer have been dry," Washington state Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco told KUOW. "So, average statewide, April through July precipitation ranked as the third driest on record, with only 41% of normal precipitation. That's pretty remarkable."

Don't let

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