Spring Arrives In Washington: Here's What To Expect This Season

SEATTLE — Just in time for the first day of spring on Saturday, federal forecasters have released their annual predictions for what lies ahead — and Western Washington is a bit of an outlier.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 2021 Spring Outlook favors above-normal temperatures for a wide swath of the United States between April and June. Western Washington and Southeast Alaska are the exceptions, both showing better odds for cooler temperatures over the three months to come.

On the precipitation front, NOAA finds equal chances for above or below-average rainfall in Washington, but the Evergreen State also escapes the significant potential for drought that is forecast across much of the West.

"The Southwest U.S., which is already experiencing widespread severe to exceptional drought will remain the hardest hit region in the U.S., and water supply will continue to be a concern this spring in these drought-affected areas," said Mary Erickson, deputy director of the National Weather Service. "This is a major change from recent years where millions were impacted by severe flooding."

The warmer-than-average temperatures expected for most this spring will allow for drought conditions to expand across the Great Plains and parts of Florida, forecasters said.

The risks of spring floods are virtually nonexistent for most of the West, according to hydrologists, and no areas in the country have a major flooding chance above 50 percent for the first time in three years.

In the near term, forecasters see increased chances for warmer and drier conditions for most into mid-April. Western Washington shows equal odds for its temperatures but looks more likely to see below-normal precipitation between April 3 and April 16, which could lend to some pleasant spring days ahead.

Read the full 2021 Spring Outlook report on NOAA's website.