Precipitation below average this spring
Early May has brought our region lots of great weather. With the exception of Mother’s Day, much of last week’s weather had abundant sunshine with mild to warm daytime temperatures.
In the first 15 days of this month, the average temperature was about 3 degrees above normal. We’ve already seen a number of 80-degree days.
We’ve also experienced thunderstorms on May 8 and 12, which managed to drop much-needed precipitation across parts of the Inland Northwest Empire. On May 11, Coeur d’Alene received more than a quarter of an inch of moisture, but the airport and parts of the Spokane Valley only received traces. Spokane’s South Hill did see some light amounts of rain from that evening’s thunderstorm.
Despite the many partly to mostly cloudy days during the late winter and early spring season, precipitation totals have dropped to well-below average levels, especially at Spokane International Airport.
From Jan. 1 to May 15, total precipitation at the airport is only 4.22 inches. Normal is nearly 7 inches. Last year, the airport recorded a healthy 8.5 inches of precipitation through the middle of May. This month’s rainfall total now is about a half-inch below average.
In Coeur d’Alene, however, more than 10 inches of moisture has fallen since Jan. 1. The normal through May 15 is slightly more than 10.5 inches.
Although we did receive plenty of moisture last November and December, the recent dry spell is beginning to cause some concern. Many area ranchers have told me that local creeks are drying up ahead of schedule. And, if moisture totals continue to remain below normal levels, this year’s fire season may be a tough one as another dry and warm summer may be around the corner.
In the Southwestern U.S., conditions are far worse as hundreds of lakes and streams have dried up in the past several years due to the worst drought in centuries.Thousands of wells have gone dry, many in recent months. Many farmers and ranchers report huge shortages of extremely critical crop irrigation water supplies due to an almost snow less winter in the Southwest.
As far as our long-term weather is concerned, between now and mid-June should be our wettest period as another six to 10 thunderstorms sweep through our area. Some pea-size hail will be likely and lowland flooding may occur in isolated areas with some of these thunderstorms. However, moisture totals won’t be nearly as high as last year when we experienced the second wettest spring in recorded history.
By mid- to late June, much like last year, the rains may quickly subside and temperatures will likely soar into the above-normal upper 80s and lower 90s in the region. It’s also possible we may see highs near 90 by the second week of June as the summer may arrive a week or two ahead of schedule.
July and August are expected to be hot again like last year as a strong ridge of high pressure moves in for an extended stay. I don’t see three consecutive afternoons in Spokane and four consecutive afternoons in Coeur d’Alene this July with triple-digit readings. That occurred in blistering 2006, which was one of the driest summers on record. I still see at least 25 to 30 afternoons this summer with highs of 90 or hotter, which is well above normal levels.
Total moisture this summer will probably double last year’s puny totals, mostly resulting from late afternoon and evening thundershowers. However, there should be few, if any, days with plans washed out.