Arizona is experiencing more rain than usual this summer, the same cannot be said for the Northwest. And the reason is El Niño, an irregularly occurring weather pattern that increases water temperatures in the central pacific.
When El Niño shows up, weather patterns change. The southern U.S. tends to get wetter and the northern part of the country heats up. So far, the additional moisture has reduced the threat of wildfires in Arizona.
That shift has worsened the drought in California as well as the Pacific Northwest, which has led to record temperatures and wildfires in central and eastern Washington.
Ken Waters is with the National Weather Service.
"It’s more like a conveyor belt where it moves the jet stream south and brings in systems into Southern California," Waters said. "That also can help, will basically deplete rainfall that might otherwise occur up in the northwest."
Waters also said the northwest had an early start to their dry season and the warm weather should continue into the fall.
