December-March 9th warmest in Spokane

The months of December, January and February were the ninth warmest on record in Spokane, the National Weather Service said today. The average temperature, or the sum of daily highs and lows divided by two, was 4.7 degrees above normal. The average temperature was 34.2 degrees during the three months. It was the warmest December through February period in Spokane since the winter of 1991-92. This year’s milder weather occurred following a series of Pacific Ocean storms that pushed subtropical air across the region at different times during the winter and rendering the snowpack to bare dirt in places. February had nine days with high temperatures in the 50s, including a 4-day string of record daily highs on Feb. 6 through 9. However, the mild southerly flow has changed direction over the past two weeks, bringing chilly temperatures at night as the region is close to arctic air that has plunged south and eastward across the U.S. and Canada. Wenatchee reported its second warmest three-month spell on record while Lewiston had its seventh warmest period. Spokane records date to 1881. More cool air is expected across the Inland Northwest as the northerly flow continues through the week. Lows could reach the teens in Spokane Tuesday night. Highs should reach the 40s under sunny skies.