As Earth warms from the buildup of greenhouse gases, the increase in temperature means more water evaporating into the atmosphere. The increase in evaporation has paradoxical effects. More evaporation can dry out the land more quickly, potentially worsening droughts. However, it also leads to heavier precipitation in the storms that form.

The Pacific Northwest is set to be hit by a string of storms over the next week, beginning with several hours of high winds Thursday afternoon, along with freezing rain in some areas and snow at higher elevations. While that snow is a welcome sight after last year’s pitiful winter snowpack, this early season snowfall doesn’t guarantee a good

Scorching temperatures above 110°F are more often associated with the stark landscapes of places like Death Valley than the cooler reaches of the Pacific Northwest. But a suped-up heat wave has left parts of Washington feeling much more like the desert Southwest and has shattered longstanding high temperature records in many spots. The searing heat

Rainless in Seattle no more. After a dire year of drought, Seattle and much of the rest of the Pacific Northwest will see heavy rain, snow and wind batter the region through Saturday, followed by a little break in the action before another system arrives to start the week. The blast of moisture should provide some relief for a region that’s been de