Inland NW wetter, warmer than usual

Spring has been off to a warmer- and wetter-than-normal start across the Inland Northwest.

 As of early Tuesday, the average temperature for March was 45.5 degrees – more than 5 degrees above normal levels. On March 10, Spokane set a record high, reaching 67 degrees. The old record for the date was 65 degrees in 1892. But the warmest day of the month was last Friday, with a very pleasant 70 degrees – just shy of the record 72 degrees set in 1889.

 As of Tuesday morning, the airport had 2.43 inches of rain for March. The normal for March is about 1.6 inches. Since Jan. 1, the airport has received about 5.50 inches of moisture, which is also above normal.

 Expect sun and showers over the next week, with a chance of snow showers overnight. But most of that likely will be to the east of Spokane and above 3,500 feet. For the season, the airport has had only 16.6 inches of snow; the normal accumulation is 44 inches.

The rest of spring should be a little cooler and wetter than normal, with above average thunderstorm activity.

 I predict about an extra 0.2 inch of precipitation each month for April, May and June. If that happens, we should be in good shape for water here in the Inland Northwest.

 Next week, I’ll have the summer forecast.