Spring comes bright and early
There’s nothing like a few warm, sunny days in April to put a bloom on things.
A high of 68 in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene on Thursday had lots of people enjoying their favorite outdoor pastimes, especially with the longer evenings that come with the season.
Spring’s first highs in the 70s were expected today and Saturday, but the forecast also calls for chances of afternoon or nighttime showers through Saturday night.
Amanda Pankratz got off classes early at Spokane Community College on Thursday and loaded up her pickup truck for a kayaking trip on a slow-moving section of the Spokane River.
“It’s perfect. I love spring. It’s not hot. It’s not cold,” said Pankratz as she loaded up her kayak at the Centennial Trail parking area at Boulder Beach.
Nearby, a salesman from Montana was getting his mountain bike ready for an afternoon ride “jumping boulders” in the forested area just north of the river.
“I’m trying to do a lot of playing early this year,” said Robert Sayler of Missoula. He said he expects the region’s dry weather to cause forest closures in Montana this summer as a precaution against fire danger.
Thursday’s mild weather had gardeners milling about nurseries looking for ways to decorate their landscapes. This week’s weather is great for planting shrubs, perennials and cool-weather vegetables like spinach, lettuce and onions, gardening experts say.
In many areas, the upper layer of soil has dried out enough for digging. The last soaking rain in Spokane came nearly three weeks ago on April 4 when a third of an inch was recorded.
Lee Bruggink was shopping at Hangman Valley Greenhouses, S. Inland Empire Way, for edible flowers she plans to use for salads.
“I know this much,” she said about planting tender flowers, “it’s too cold at night.”
Most gardeners wait until mid-May to plant frost-sensitive annuals and vegetables.
While lows earlier this week dropped to near or below freezing, the nighttime temperatures are expected to be relatively mild through Sunday morning. Lows are forecast in the mid- to upper-40s in Spokane tonight and Saturday night, and only a few degrees cooler than that in Coeur d’Alene.
Highs in Spokane are forecast to reach 71 today and 73 on Saturday before dropping back into the mid-60s on Sunday. Similar temperatures are expected in Coeur d’Alene. The greatest chance for rain was forecast for Saturday evening. Mild weather was expected to continue on Monday through the middle of next week.
Average temperatures in Spokane for April 21 are 56 during the day and 37 at night. Sunset tonight is at 7:50 p.m. A full moon early Sunday is expected to show a partial eclipse at about 3 a.m.