Area has experienced lots of extreme weather

Over this last year, we’ve seen almost every kind of weather extreme across our region.

For example, the spring of 2006 was the second wettest in recorded history. From mid-June through Halloween, it was the one of the driest periods in Spokane Valley and the most arid in Coeur d’Alene.

On Halloween, trick-or-treaters were greeted with near-record low temperatures. Last Monday and Tuesday, a record-warm 60 degrees was felt along with strong winds and rain.

As I mentioned in a previous article, there is strong evidence that we’re in a long-term cycle of wide weather extremes – the worst in more than 1,000 years.

I believe this current extreme cycle began around mid-1967 Since that time, more than 50,000 worldwide temperature and precipitation records have fallen that once stood for nearly 200 years. Based on the long-term weather charts that date back to 600 B.C., we may be only halfway through this 70-year global cycle of wide weather extremes that probably won’t end until at least the late 2030s.

From June 15 through the end of October, the Spokane International Airport only received 1.28 inches of moisture. Based on records since the late 1880s, this was the seventh driest period in recorded history. The normal rainfall at the airport over that 4 1/2-month period is 3.86 inches. In Coeur d’Alene, only 2.26 inches fell during that period compared to a normal 6.63 inches.

After that long stretch of dry weather, our weather pattern has suddenly changed that has opened the storm door. Waves of moisture, one right after another, will continue to move through our region at least through Thanksgiving. Since early November, the airport has received over an inch of much-needed rainfall. Spokane Valley has picked up nearly an inch of moisture with two inches received in Coeur d’Alene.

The new wet weather pattern is, at least in part, thanks to the warmer than normal sea-surface temperature phenomenon El Niño in the south-central Pacific Ocean. Earlier this week, moisture from the ocean had been streaming in from a tropical origin. Between now and the middle of next week, though, the northwest flow from Alaska will bring us colder weather with a good chance of rain and snow showers with some accumulation possible.

The chances for more snow across the mountain areas still remain favorable, especially from Nov. 18 through Nov. 27 or a bit longer. This is good news for skiers and snowboarders who have been waiting patiently for the white stuff. Although, we should still see more rainfall in the lower elevations, don’t be surprised to see several periods of snow down to the valley floor through at least early December.

But, many of the Pacific storms should start heading south into California by the early portion of December, typical of El Niño. During that time, we get what’s left over as we’re on the northern edge of those storms. Overall, we should turn drier and milder than normal from the early December until the first week of January.

I still expect January to be the snowiest and coldest month of the entire winter season. Don’t be surprised to see more than half of our season’s snow during that time. This pattern is now looking more favorable for snow-lovers as El Niño appears to be leveling off.

Over the last week, ocean temperatures in the equatorial regions have either maintained their current temperature levels or cooled slightly. In other words, El Niño may have already peaked, but it’s still too early to tell.

Remember, during this cycle of wide weather extremes’ anything is possible. Stay tuned.