Winter Is Coming—Technically
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:42 am
Hope everyone is enjoying this summer day, one day after the summer solstice—the official beginning of the astronomical summer and the longest day of the year. There was lot's of celebration at Stonehenge yesterday. Checkout AP's photo gallery as the sun rose over the ancient stone circle near Salisbury, England.
Let's not forget the meteorological summer which began on June 1st and ends on August 31—grouping the warmest months of the year and allowing for consistent, year-over-year climate and weather data collection. Unfortunately, NOAA's seasonal temperature outlook—valid from July through September—shows a 70-80% likelihood of above normal temperatures for the Pacific Northwest. We'll see.
Then there's El Niño, a natural warming cycle in the Pacific Ocean. Will this year's El Niño be the “super El Niño” the some are predicting? El Niño events which have occurred three to four times since 2010 and are typically associated with lower-than-normal snowpacks, certainly noticeable locally this year.
Enjoy your summer. Stay cool, stay hydrated and stay tuned.
Let's not forget the meteorological summer which began on June 1st and ends on August 31—grouping the warmest months of the year and allowing for consistent, year-over-year climate and weather data collection. Unfortunately, NOAA's seasonal temperature outlook—valid from July through September—shows a 70-80% likelihood of above normal temperatures for the Pacific Northwest. We'll see.
Then there's El Niño, a natural warming cycle in the Pacific Ocean. Will this year's El Niño be the “super El Niño” the some are predicting? El Niño events which have occurred three to four times since 2010 and are typically associated with lower-than-normal snowpacks, certainly noticeable locally this year.
Enjoy your summer. Stay cool, stay hydrated and stay tuned.