Rising Northwest waters bring tough choice: fight or flight The climate’s already changing. People north of Seattle have been facing the muddy consequences head-on. John Ryan
Why does the water level of Lake Washington change through the year? Lake Washington water levels go up and down by 2 feet every year. You may be surprised to find out why. Katherine Banwell
Water Uncertainty Frustrates Victims Of California's Worst Wildfire Ravaged by wildfire, Paradise, Calif., remains a disaster recovery zone. Those rebuilding homes and lives say they're getting contradictory messages about whether the water is safe to drink. Kirk Siegler
Failed sewage pumps lead to 2.1 million gallon spill into Puget Sound Backup pumps at Seattle's main sewage treatment plant failed during an overnight power outage. John Ryan
The river runs alarmingly low in North Bend It’s been raining this July, but much of Washington is still in a drought, because of our hot, dry spring and early summer. Just 30 minutes outside Seattle, in the town of North Bend, most development is on hold till an issue of water is resolved. Eilís O'Neill
It's the second week of July. So where's summer? Summer officially began June 21, but in the Pacific Northwest some say it doesn't really kick off here until the Fourth of July. Casey Martin
Outlook: above-normal temps, below-normal precipitation. Washington state’s snowpack is down to less than a third its normal levels for this time of year. The early meltdown leaves the state's main storehouse of water for the summer a shadow of its usual self. John Ryan
Drought emergency declared over nearly half of Washington Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has declared a drought emergency across nearly half the state. John Ryan
Trickling rivers, smoky skies: a taste of future Seattle This summer, weather stations from Bellingham to Olympia were as dry as they’ve ever been. John Ryan
How risky is it to swim in Washington lakes? Jackson Ludwig loves lakes. “Where I was from — Moscow, Idaho — there’s not a lot of lakes to swim. And so being here was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s all... Eilís O'Neill