The northwestern United States (including the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) is home to nearly 14 million Americans. The region's diverse landscapes and inhabitants are variously affected by changing climate.
News & Features
Weak La Niña conditions continued in January, but a transition to ENSO-neutral in the near future is likely.
January 2025 was the coldest January since 1988 and sixth driest on record for the nation.
Released in 2023, the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) includes an Art × Climate gallery. This work by Linda Gass highlights the historical shoreline of San Francisco Bay.
La Niña's fingerprints are on the February climate outlook for the United States, but what other factors are at play?
There is a lot more to the polar vortex than disrupted winds and increased odds for cold weather.
A deep dip in the jet stream brought Arctic air to the South, where it collided with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
Why no one should expect a perfect match between what happens during a La Niña winter and the expected La Niña pattern. But knowing whether it may be a El Niño or La Niña winter is still useful!
The cold air outbreak forecasted for the coming weekend has a stronger hint of a polar vortex connection than the last one.
With Hurricane Helene at the top of the list, there were 27 disasters in the United States in 2024 that individually cost $1 billion or more. It was the second-highest number since the NOAA record began in 1980.