Office of the Washington State Climatologist

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist (OWSC) is called by the State of Washington to serve as a credible and expert source of climate and weather information for state and local decision makers and agencies working on drought, flooding, climate change, and other related issues.  The web site provides links to sources of climate data and seasonal forecasts for the state of Washington. Most data on the site are available for free; a charge may apply for additional data or interpretation, or for testimony in a legal case. 

State Climate Offices are an integral component of the National Climate Service Partnership, which also includes NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and six Regional Climate Centers (RCCs).  State climate offices recognized by the American Association of State Climatologists (AASC) work closely with one another, and with the regional and national counterparts, to provide climate data and services at the local level.  Specifically, AASC recognized state climate offices (or ARSCOs) provide one or more of the following services:

1) Coordinate and collect weather observations for the purpose of climate monitoring; 2) Summarize and disseminate weather and climate information to the user community; 3) Demonstrate to the user community the value of climate information in the decision making process; 4) Perform climate impact assessments and weather event evaluations; 5) Conduct climate research, diagnosis, and projections.

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist is recognized by the AASC.

Phone: (206) 543-3145

Related Organizations:

• National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
• University of Washington
• Center for Science in the Earth System (CSES)
• American Association of State Climatologists (AASC)
• Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, Snow (CoCoRaHS)