In this tab, you can visualize the changes expected to daily minimum temperatures (T-min), daily maximum temperatures (T-max), and daily average temperatures (T-gvg) into the future. You can also visualize expected changes to heat and frost risks.

In the Pacific Northwest region, we expect temperatures to increase going into the future and this signal is robust across all climate model projections. This warming results in a longer available growing season. Even though a longer growing season is available, the actual time-to-maturity for crops is expected to be shorted due to accelerated growing degree day (GDD) accumulation (see GDD tab). This can have a negative impact on crop yields, but can be adapted to, by shifting to crop varieties that have longer times to maturity, or where possible, by shifting to double cropping systems.

The range of years considered include 1979 to 2015 (historical), 2025 to 2055 (2040s), 2045 to 2075 (2060s) and 2065 to 2095(2080s).

Expected changes to T-min

Expected changes to T-avg

Expected changes to T-max

Expected changes to heat risk

This figure shows the number of days in each month, temperatures higher than a threshold are expected. Use the option on the side panel to change the thresholds and replot the figure.

Expected changes to frost risk

This figure shows the number of days in each month, a frost event is expected.

In this tab, you can visualize the changes expected to total precipitation, rain, and snow levels, going into the future. Total precipitaion is split into rain and snow using the Pipes and Quick linear split method. This method had limitations, but is an approximation used in several hydrology models. You can also visualize the frequency of daily precipitation events exceeding a user specified threshold.

In the Pacific Northwest region, we generally expect a warming related shift in precipitation from snow to rain (decreases in snow levels and increases in rain levels). This signal is robust across multiple climate model projections. Total prepicipation is generally expected to stay about the same except perhaps certain months in early spring or winter. There is also variability among climate models in this aspect.

The range of years considered include 1979 to 2015 (historical), 2025 to 2055 (2040s), 2045 to 2075 (2060s) and 2065 to 2095(2080s).

Expected changed to snow levels

Expected changed to rain levels

Expected changes to total precipitation levels

Expected changes to daily precipitation event frequencies

This figure shows the number of days in each month that that daily precipitation exceed a certain threshold. Use the option on the side panel to change the thresholds and replot the figure.

Analogs can help users think about projected future changes in the context of what is currently experienced in other locations. An analog of a selected location is another location whose current growing conditions are similar to those expected in the selected location in the future. The analog maps below provide this information based on similarity of soil and climatic parameters. Analogs are provided for 2040s (2025-2055), 2060s (2045-2075) and 2080s(2065-2095) averages. This analysis is at a county level. So similarity is calculated between historical parameters (1979-2015) of the county containing the selected location and all other counties in the Western United States.

County Climate Analogues

The selected county is outlined in green. The three counties with historical soil and climate most similar to the future climate of the selected county are highlighted in orange, with more intense orange indicating a closer match.