The Olympian reports “Temperatures on the rise over the years in South Sound”

“Average temperatures in South Sound have grown slightly warmer in the past century.

For example, Olympia’s January temperatures were almost three degrees warmer on average in the past two decades than in the previous 30 years, according to the Western Regional Climate Center. Between 1949 and 1979, the average January temperature was 36.9 degrees. In the next 25 years, the average January temperature was 39.4 degrees, the climate center reports…

In general, climate change is causing warmer temperatures, reduced snowpack and rising sea levels in Washington, according to the state Department of Ecology. But with this year’s winter expected to be characterized by La Nina’s colder, wetter weather, forecasters say that climate change’s regional footprint won’t be obvious.”

The Olympia Regional Airport is the closest National Weather Service Station to Yelm, being 16 miles away.