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Washington Climate
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Climate (All temperatures
Fahrenheit) |
| Highest
Temperature |
The highest temperature recorded in Washington is
118°, Fahrenheit. This record high was recorded on
August 5, 1961 at Ice Harbor Dam. |
| Lowest Temperature |
The lowest temperature in Washington, -48°, was
recorded on December 30, 1968 at Mazama and Winthrop. |
| Average
Temperature |
Monthly average temperatures range from a high of
84.0 degrees to a low of 20.0 degrees. |
| Climate |
Washington's climate varies greatly from west to
east. A mild, humid climate predominates in the western
part of the state, and a cooler dry climate prevails
east of the Cascade Range. The average annual
temperature ranges from 10.6° C (51° F) on the Pacific
coast to 4.4° C (40° F) in the northeast. The recorded
temperature in the state has ranged from -44.4° C (-48°
F) in 1968 to 47.8° C (118° F) in 1961. A wet marine
West Coast climate predominates in western Washington;
it is mild for its latitude due to the presence of the
warm North Pacific Current offshore and the relatively
warm maritime air masses. The region has frequent cloud
cover, considerable fog, and long-lasting drizzles;
summer is the sunniest season. The western side of the
Olympic Peninsula receives as much as 4064 mm (160 in)
of precipitation annually, making it the wettest area of
the 48 conterminous states. Weeks or even months, may
pass without a clear day. Portions of the Puget Sound
area, on the leeward side of the Olympic Mountains, are
less wet, although still humid. The western slopes of
the Cascade Range receive some of the heaviest annual
snowfall (in some places more than 5080 mm/200 in) in
the country. In the rain shadow east of the Cascades the
annual precipitation is only 152 mm (6 in).
Precipitation increases eastward toward the Rocky
Mountains, however.
Average yearly precipitation for Washington, from
1961 to 1990, is shown on this chart from Oregon State
University. |
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