Impacts of the heat and drought conditions in Pierce County

This collection of articles looks at the hot weather this week in Pierce County and drought conditions this summer in Washington. The articles explore the strain on water resources and examine how current laws protect pets during hot weather.

One article explains how a drought emergency declaration affects Pierce County and surrounding regions, emphasizing reduced water supplies and predicting future drought severity and frequency. Another predicts the moderate heat risk for Tacoma this week, leading authorities to prepare cooling centers for residents. Meanwhile, other pieces focus on the dangers and legal implications of leaving pets in vehicles during heatwaves.

NO. 1: HERE’S WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A DOG CONFINED IN A CAR ON A HOT DAY, POLICE SAY

Yes, it still happens.Whether it be at grocery-store parking lots or elsewhere, some pets are being left in cars by their owners. | Published July 20, 2018 | Read Full Story by Allison Needles

NO. 2: IT’S AGAINST WA STATE LAW TO LOCK A PET IN A HOT CAR, OR RESCUE ONE. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

When you see a vulnerable animal locked in a parked vehicle on a hot day, here’s what you can do to help. | Published May 17, 2023 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

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Sage Williams, 8, gets water poured on her from the splashground at Jefferson Park in Tacoma, Wash. As June 21 marked the first day of summer, the weather of Tacoma wasted no time to bring its first heat wave of the year. However, despite the air getting warmer, Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean remain too cold to swim in so to keep cool, Metro Parks Tacoma has 10 spraygrounds open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. By Clare Grant

NO. 3: DROUGHT EMERGENCY HITS PIERCE COUNTY, MUCH OF WESTERN WASHINGTON

The drought in Western Washington could impact water supplies and reservoirs in the coming months. | Published June 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Constanza Montemayor

A cyclist pedals by as kayakers paddle through the Puget Sound on Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Steilacoom, Wash. Temperatures in the 80s brought people out all over Pierce County to enjoy the first heat wave of the year. By Pete Caster

NO. 4: MODERATE HEAT RISK FORECAST FOR TACOMA AREA. HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?

Temperatures could reach into the 90s in some areas next week. | Published July 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shea Johnson

NO. 5: WITH TEMPERATURES PUSHING 90, TACOMA ANNOUNCES BEAT-THE-HEAT RESOURCES

The city of Tacoma will activate cooling centers and resources if temperatures reach “moderate” levels of heat based on the National Weather Service’s standards. | Published July 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Isha Trivedi

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.