Region’s summer weather has been smokin’ hot

Hot, dry and smoke sum up our summer so far.

Since June 1, Spokane International Airport has only received 0.30 inches of rain, breaking a record set in 1949. The normal is close to 2.25 inches. Since Jan. 1, Spokane has picked up 7.06 inches of rain and melted snow for the season. The normal is near 9.90 inches. Last year, we had about 9.50 inches of moisture for the season.

With parts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho in extreme drought, the area was ripe for fires.

Tens of thousands of acres have burned already this summer throughout the Inland Northwest. Many of the blazes were started by lightning strikes. Smoke from those fires has led to air quality alerts, including in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

Temperatures this summer have been higher than usual, starting in June when the average reading was 9.3 degrees above normal. July was 4.4 degrees above average and so far we’re more than 4 degrees above normal levels in August. As of early this week, the airport had reported 29 days with temperatures at or above 90 degrees. The hottest day of the summer was 105 degrees on June 28. June 27 reached 102; July 13 and Aug. 13 each reported highs at 100 degrees. The average number of days with 90 degrees or above is 18 with about one 100-degree day.

The long-range outlook continues to have that strong ridge of high pressure locked in over the western U.S. into September. There is a chance that we’ll get some moisture late in August or early September, but rainfall totals should remain below average, which is not good news for area firefighters.

The upcoming fall season should see an increase in moisture to near-normal levels by late September or October. Let’s hope we see some of that rainfall sooner or later to help with the fire situation here in the Inland Empire.