SEATTLE —
May brought near record-breaking warm and dry conditions to the Pacific Northwest.
For the month of May 2023, Sea-Tac observed an average temperature of 60.9 degrees (factoring in daytime highs and overnight lows). The normal for the month is 57.5. This makes May 2023 the second-warmest May on record.
Also, rain totals were below normal. On average, Sea-Tac observes 1.88 inches of rain during a typical May but only recorded 0.93” in 2023.
That deficit for the month exacerbated the calendar deficit. By the end of May, Sea-Tac usually has recorded 18.77 inches of rain. However, for 2023, Sea-Tac only picked up 12.8 inches so far, creating a six-inch deficit.
Plus, the National Weather Service tweeted statistics that reveal the dry conditions, despite many "rainy days."
May 2022 saw 78 days of rain, but with 22.23 inches of rainfall, making it the 10th wettest on record. In May 2023, there were 77 days that saw rain, but the total rainfall was only 12.8 inches, making it the 10th driest in 79 years.
The Climate Prediction Center has released the outlook for the month of June and temperatures look to trend warmer than normal. The first week of June is forecasted to bring above-average temperatures.
This all comes as the La Niña pattern transitions to an El Niño pattern, which can mean warmer and drier conditions for the Pacific Northwest in the winter.
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