Rainfall sets record in Spokane on Monday

If you think we’ve had a lot of rain lately, you are right. Spokane International Airport on Monday had the most rain for March 21 in more than a century. A total of 0.49 inches of rain measured at the airport eclipsed the previous daily record of 0.45 inches set in 1916. Records have been kept in Spokane since 1881. Spokane has now had 13.69 inches of precipitation since Oct. 1, which is 3.76 inches above normal for the period. More rain is on the way later in the week, but the rest of the day should be mostly sunny, according to the late morning forecast from the National Weather Service. Highs today should reach the middle 40s, and it will be breezy and gusty at times with winds peaking at around 21 mph in Spokane and 20 mph in Coeur d’Alene. Wednesday could bring some clearing, too, but increasing clouds are forecasted through the day as the next storm system approaches the region. The chance of rain returns on Thursday through Saturday in the valleys and snow in the mountains. A series of storm impulses is moving eastward across the Pacific Ocean this week headed for the West Coast and Inland Northwest, forecasters said. At 7 a.m., it was 33 at Spokane International Airport, 36 at Felts Field and in Coeur d’Alene, 35 in Deer Park and 34 in Pullman.