Summary:
- A moderately warm August, but low heat stress compared to recent years. The month was dry south and slightly wet north, but concerns for drought conditions in the PNW and fire risk across the west continue.
- Heat accumulation continues to lag the warmest of the last few years but remains largely above average in all but portions of the northern and southern coast of California and eastern Washington, which are closer to average or slightly below average. Harvest across the west has commenced for sparkling and early varieties.
- The forecast through mid-month indicates a warm start to September becoming mild through mid-month then warming to slightly above average later in the month with no major heat events. Some precipitation is forecast for the extreme northwest, but not much expected, while the rest of the west will likely stay dry.
- A very warm North Pacific continues its influence on the forecast for September through November, with the western US likely seeing a warmer than average end of summer and start to fall. The precipitation forecast calls for near-average conditions throughout the west, with no clear signal for the onset of fall rains in the forecast at this time.
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