Climatologists Predict Chilly February For Washington

SEATTLE — Western Washington is set to have a chilly, dreary February.

While the short-term forecast may not contain any gusty winds, snow or hail like some parts of the Puget Sound saw earlier this week, there is one thing to look out for: colder-than-average temperatures, which will be sticking around for quite some time.

The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center recently released their three-month outlook, showing general climate predictions for the United States through April. And unfortunately for the Pacific Northwest, it predicts consistently chilly temperatures for Washington state.

Their report also breaks down temperature predictions on a week-by-week basis. The 6-10 day outlook, pictured below, shows a zone of cold temperatures radiating out of southern California and up the west coast.

Washington escapes the worst of it, but will continue to see cooler temperatures as the cold zone moves inland the week after.

After that, the cold zone dissipates as it crosses the Midwest. In the northern U.S. however, the cold will continue to stick around.

In short, it'll be dreary and chill for at least February, but likely into April. The news may not come as a surprise to some (climatologists have been predicting cooler-than-average temperatures for the northern U.S. since back in October) but it doesn't make it any less of a bummer.