With 8 Days Left, March Already Wettest On Record

It’s already the wettest March on record, and there still are eight days left in the month.

A total of 3.81 inches of precipitation have fallen at Spokane International Airport. A small amount of snow - 0.7 inch - fell early this month.

The previous March record for precipitation was 3.75 inches in 1950. The lowest amount ever recorded in March was 0.19 inches in 1909.

More rain showers are expected today.

“We’re still into a good spring-type weather pattern,” said Ken Holmes, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

While some parts of Spokane saw heavy showers Thursday morning, the airport recorded only 0.01 inch of rain, the smallest measurable amount.

The rain Thursday was caused by a low pressure area that has been bringing wet weather to the Northwest for nearly a week. That low is expected to move across Oregon today, bringing with it another chance of showers.

As the low moves farther east, skies in Spokane are expected to clear Saturday and Sunday.

With the clear skies will come colder temperatures. Lows are forecast for the low- to mid-20s; highs will be in the mid-40s.

Fair weather is expected to continue through the middle of next week with a warming trend Monday through Wednesday, Holmes said. After that, the likelihood is a return to more rain, he said.

So far, the rainfall has caused only minor problems. The Little Spokane River went over its banks in the Pine River Park area. Some roads have been damaged by heavy runoff. Water also is standing in fields around the area.