Weather: Drier weather expected through mid-October
Fall officially started earlier this week, but the weather patterns still feel more like summer. A weak storm system did manage to drop our temperatures from the 80-degree readings reported on Sunday and Monday. The airport climbed to 88 degrees while parts of North Idaho actually touched the 90 degree mark on Monday.
Despite the forecast of occasional light showers at the end of this week, September’s precipitation total will likely end up below normal. As of Tuesday, the Spokane International Airport had received 0.22 inches of rain for the month, compared to a normal of about 0.50 inches. However, for the year, Spokane has received 10.22 inches of rain and melted snow since Jan. 1, which is a little less than 0.50 inches below the seasonal normal. Last year, only 7.97 inches of moisture fell through late September.
The strong ridge of high pressure that’s been locked in over the western U.S., giving us the drier than normal weather pattern, is expected to hang around through at least the middle of October. There may be some storms strong enough to bring us some scattered showers at times, but the heavier precipitation may not arrive until late next month or early November.
Although, our region is likely to receive increased moisture over the next few months, it still doesn’t look good for drought-ravaged California. The persistent dryness has led to widespread wildfires as well as water shortages around the state.
Many wells and rivers in the state’s Central Valley have literally run dry. Some residents of that area are forced to rely on donated bottles of water as there are no other water sources available.
The current drought is one of the worst in at least 100 years. In some areas, it’s the driest in recorded history. Water tables are lowering much faster as the agricultural industry accounts for more than 60 percent of the state’s water consumption.
The Drought Index continues to show mostly extreme drought over California and into western Nevada. The dryness in the Southwest has eased thanks to moisture during the summer.
And, a recent study suggests that the Golden State may be heading toward a 35-year “mega drought.” According to the University of Arizona and Cornell University, prolonged droughts can naturally occur every 400 to 600 years.