Seattle scientists predicted this summer would be hot and dry, with warming waters and low river levels. It’s worse than they thought, however, with record-breaking heat, a meager snowpack and a severe drought. And the effects are now evident in the Puget Sound.
“I wasn’t expecting the conditions to be this extreme,” said University of Washington climate scientist Nick Bond. “I thought it would be dry and warm, but I wasn’t expecting this.”
Scientists from county, state and federal agencies said Thursday they are concerned about the ecological outlook in the Puget Sound from the unusual conditions, which are forecast to persist as a strong El Niño develops.