Summary:
- July was cooler than average* in California, especially along the coast, and warmer than average in the PNW.
- A drier than average July with 25% or less than normal for much of the west. The exception was in Northern California, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho, where thunderstorms were prevalent during the month.
- Drought has expanded to cover much of the West, and the seasonal drought outlook indicates that most of the region will experience dryness persisting into the fall.
- No precipitation is on the forecast horizon for the month over most of the western US, with the exception being potential thunderstorms over the Sierra Nevada mountains, Cascades, and in the southwest.
- The overall August forecast is for warmer-than-normal temperatures and seasonally dry conditions across the entire western US, although cooler coastal zones are likely to continue experiencing these conditions.
- The 90-day forecast is also pointing to a strong probability of a warmer and drier western US heading into our ripening and harvest months. Models are hinting at least a few periods of prolonged heat along with extremely dry conditions, which increase fire risk.
