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Pacific Northwest DEWS Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar: August 23, 2021

Event Date
August 23, 2021
Event Time
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Timezone
PDT

The Pacific Northwest Drought Early Warning System (PNW DEWS) Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña).

Timestamp
0:00

Introduction

Speaker: Britt Parker | NOAA/National Integrated Drought Information System, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

 

Timestamp
6:23

Climate Recap and Current Conditions

Speaker: Nick Bond | Office of the Washington State Climatologist

  • For much of the Pacific Northwest, this summer is going into the record books.
  • Precipitation totals since late winter have been extremely low in eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and northern Idaho.
  • The summer of 2021 in the Pacific Northwest so far has featured much warmer than normal temperatures, especially east of the Cascade Mountain crest across northern Idaho.
  • Much of the Pacific Northwest is experiencing exceptional drought (D4) conditions.

 

Timestamp
23:20

Drought and Outlook

Speaker: Robin Fox | National Weather Service, Spokane Weather Forecast Office

  • Dry and somewhat seasonal Labor Day Weekend outlook.
  • Favoring a dry and mild September, then trending to more seasonal conditions through the fall months.
  • Elevated wildfire potential through September.
  • Drought persists with extreme (D3) to exceptional (D4) drought in the interior areas.
  • La Niña Watch for late fall into winter.
  • Drought impacts on agriculture and wildfires.

 

Timestamp
40:00

FireEarth: Understanding What Makes People Vulnerable to Wildfire

Speakers: Sonia Hall and Alex Kirckpatrick | Washington State University

  • FireEarth aims to improve our understanding of how people are vulnerable to wildfire across the Pacific Northwest so that communities can build resilience to future wildfire disasters.
  • Fire is a natural part of Northwest ecosystems. Vulnerability addresses how prepared communities are when a wildfire inevitably occurs, and what resources they have to recover afterwards.
  • Resilient communities are those that prepare for wildfires through education, planning, and action, and are able to minimize long-term negative outcomes for residents and businesses. Knowing our vulnerabilities and becoming more resilient can reduce the potential for disasters.
  • Research results include peer-reviewed publications, outreach, co-production at demonstration watersheds, science briefs, communication best practices, and story map.
  • Explore more.