It’s hot, even in the scheme of things

Last week, it was reported that Spokane saw its second-hottest July on record. The average temperature at the International Airport was 75.6 degrees, just under the hottest such reading set 101 years ago in 1906. Spokane’s third mean warmest July occurred in 1998 at 75.3 degrees. The normal average reading for July is 68.6 degrees.

Spokane did break a record for July’s warmest low average temperature, finishing the month with a mean low temperature of 61.5 degrees. The old record was 61.1 degrees set in 1938. As far as average high temperatures, Spokane recorded a July reading of 89.8 degrees, ranking fifth among the warmest high July temperatures. The all-time mean high temperature observed in July was 91.5 degrees in 1960.

Coeur d’Alene saw its third-warmest July since at least 1895, with an average temperature of 75.5 degrees, an average high of 91 degrees and a not-so-prime sleeping-weather low of 60 degrees. The hottest July was in 1985, at 76.2 degrees; the second-hottest July was in 1960, at 75.8 degrees.

Boise observed an all-time average temperature in July of 83.1 degrees, smashing the previous mark of 81.5 degrees set last July at the international airport. The downtown Boise average (mean) temperature was 82 degrees, the highest reading since 1874. The normal is 74.7 degrees, more than 7 degrees cooler.

Not only was July of 2007 very hot, but it was dry. At the Spokane International Airport, only 0.43 inches of moisture fell, .33 inches below normal. Since Jan. 1, the seasonal total is holding at 6.60 inches. The normal precipitation is slightly less than 10 inches. Last year, 12.77 inches had fallen in Spokane.

In Coeur d’Alene, only a scant .26 inches of precipitation was gauged in July, just 27 percent of the normal of .96 inches for July since 1895. No wonder the nearby forests in early August are tinder-dry and there have been so many forest and brushfires in the region.

This extreme hot and dry weather pattern was felt across other parts of the U.S. last month. All-time average July temperature records fell in Montana, Wyoming, Nevada and South Dakota.

The first week of August still has readings above normal. Despite the recent cooling, Spokane was reporting an average temperature of approximately 73 degrees, or about 3 degrees above normal, as of early this week.

Much of the rest of August should continue to be warmer and drier than usual. Last August, only .25 inches of rainfall were measured at the Spokane International Airport. There is a chance of some measurable moisture next week and the last week of the month in the region. The normal precipitation for this month is .68 inches.

The first week to 10 days in September also look drier and warmer than normal. But, if the La Nina cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event holds together in the Pacific Ocean for a few more months, this fall should turn a bit wetter and cooler than usual and end the dry and hot pattern. Ocean temperatures in equatorial regions have been cooling over the last few weeks. Last year’s hot and dry summer ultimately led to a very cool and wet late fall season. Stay tuned.