Many sprinklers turned off too soon
October definitely brought us a taste of cooler fall weather, but one thing missing was the rain.
After a few decent showers to start off the month, the last three weeks produced little more than .01 inches. For folks that had their sprinklers blown out earlier to prevent any freeze damage, there were many brown lawns as a result.
A persistent upper-level ridge of high pressure was responsible for the past week’s dry weather. As of Oct. 30, Spokane had received only a third of the average precipitation for the month, and Coeur d’Alene had received a little more than a quarter of the average rainfall. Temperatures ended up overall close to average.
November should definitely be much wetter, with average precipitation of nearly 2.25 inches in Spokane, and almost 3 inches in Coeur d’Alene. We will also likely be dealing with our first bouts of wintry weather. Spokane sees an average of 6.4 inches of snow in November, and Coeur d’Alene averages a bit more at 7.8 inches.
Of course with all this talk about averages, I am talking about the data from one particular point in Spokane (namely Geiger Field), and for Coeur d’Alene there is extensive data from the home of local climatologist Cliff Harris on Player Drive.
Your particular location will likely have different statistics, and sometimes those numbers can be quite different. One of the fun things to have, even if you’re not a meteorologist or self-described “weather geek” is your very own weather station.
Who lives at the airport anyway? I set mine up a couple of years ago in my backyard, and have had a fun time noting some of the more extreme conditions occurring right where I live. It is especially interesting to watch the anemometer display while the winds are howling, and try to correlate the wind speed to how far the trees are bending over.
Though my particular weather station is pretty high-tech, you don’t necessarily need expensive equipment to put together your own. Simple, easy to read rain gauges and thermometers can be purchased for less than $10.
I have also seen basic weather stations at places like windandweather.com and weathershack.com for under $100. As a fun and educational project for kids, you can even make your own rain gauge using something as simple as a tin can and a ruler. Simple “make your own barometer” directions can be found at http://starry skies.com/try_this/baro1.html.
When setting up your own weather instruments, location is more important than the type of equipment you have. The most expensive instruments will not give accurate results if placed poorly. Anemometers and rain gauges need to be placed in an open area clear of obstructions.
Once you have your instruments set up, the fun begins. Note trends in pressure, temperature, wind speed and direction before, during and after the passage of a cold front. See how your temperature readings compare to the “bank” thermometers. The educational possibilities are endless.