Extreme weather patterns emerge
July has started with more wide weather extremes.
In Southern California, the 2006-07 rainy season was the lowest in recorded history. Severe drought also plagued parts of the southeastern U.S. In between these droughts, record rains in Texas and Oklahoma led to numerous flooding problems. In the Inland Empire, we’ve seen more extreme weather as well.
Late last week, many 100-degree temperatures were felt across the inland areas in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Both the Spokane International Airport and Coeur d’Alene topped at a record-breaking 101 degrees on July 5.
Even parts of Western Montana soared to above the 100-degree mark, readings not typically seen until August. In Utah, an unofficial temperature of 118 degrees was recorded July 4 by an automated weather station along Interstate 15, eight miles south of St. George.
It was also extremely hot in the desert Southwest. Phoenix sweltered with a 115-degree reading on July 5. Baker, Calif., jumped to an incredible 125 degrees, nine degrees shy of the 134-degree all-time highest North American temperature, measured at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, Calif. in early July 1913. That number is still unofficial, but a more reliable U.S. all-time heat record was the 131 degrees observed at Badwater in Death Valley on June 29, 1994.
The highest temperature recorded at the Spokane International Airport was 108 degrees on Aug. 4, 1961 and July 26, 1928. It was 109 degrees in Coeur d’Alene on Aug. 4, 1961 as well. Washington state’s all-time hottest reading was observed on Aug. 5, 1961, when the mercury soared to 118 at Ice Harbor Dam. Idaho’s record high of 118 was set at Orofino on July 28, 1934.
Since early March 2007, much of our warmest weather has occurred around the first week of each month. For example, at Spokane International Airport, our first 60-degree day of 2007 occurred on March 11. The first 70-degree day happened on April 7 with a high of 71. It was 83 on May 8, the first time we were at or above 80 this year. Temperatures shot up to 93 on June 3 and 101 on July 5, our first 90- and 100-degree days.
All of those high temperatures listed above were near or during a full moon lunar cycle. Much of our global weather, in some form or another, seems to be influenced by the phases of the moon. Each particular phase lasts approximately seven days.
History suggests that farmers have planted their crops based on these cycles for thousands of years. With the exception of the March 11 60-degree temperature, which occurred on the first day of a last quarter lunar phase (right after the full moon), all other warm ups have been during a full moon cycle. In the winter months, the pattern reverses as the coldest weather will often occur during that particular phase.
The rest of July looks drier and warmer than normal. Temperatures should cool a bit this weekend, however, following more readings near 100 today and Friday in the region. Another round of hot weather is expected in late July and early August, once again near or during that full moon lunar cycle. Don’t be too surprised to see one more period of very warm to hot weather in early September as well.
As a strong ridge of high pressure holds over much of the West, only scattered late afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected between now and mid-August.
Shower activity should increase a bit by mid- to late August and conditions should turn even wetter and cooler-than-normal beginning around mid-September. This is the pattern that looks the most favorable if the cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event, La Niña, continues to hold on to life in the south-central Pacific Ocean.
Meteorologist Randy Mann can be seen weekends on KREM-2. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact him at randy@longrangeweather.com, or go to www.longrangeweather.com for additional information.