Lack of rain par for July but winds were strong

Seen any rain lately? I guess it would depend on what part of the Inland Northwest that you live in.

While Coeur d’Alene has enjoyed above normal precipitation not only for the month of July, but the year-to-date as well, Spokane remains in a deficit. Rainfall from thunderstorms have truly been the “hit-and-miss” type this season, bringing flooding rains to one area while leaving other nearby locations bone dry.

As of July 30, the Spokane International Airport had only received 0.48 inches of rain. July is normally one of the driest months of the year, but the average precipitation is still up around 0.76 inches. Interestingly enough, the past two Julys have been even drier, with only a trace of rain received back in July 2008 and 0.43 inches for July 2007. Spokane is nearly an inch below normal for precipitation since Jan. 1.

In the Spokane Valley, only 0.39 inches of rain fell in July. Just across the border, however, Coeur d’Alene has gauged 1.59 inches of rain for the month, and is nearly an inch above the average for the year-to-date.

Additional data show Lewiston below normal for the month (0.48 inches), while Pullman has seen significantly above normal rainfall for the month (0.97 inches).

Spokane has missed more than rainfall so far this summer. Along with Coeur d’Alene, the region has also dodged the bullet on any extreme heat, at least for now. We’re right in the middle of the hottest part of the season, yet temperatures have remained below the century mark.

This would not be so noteworthy were it not for the fact that Seattle (with an average high of 77 this time of year) set a record high Wednesday of 103 degrees. This smashed the previous record of 95 set back in 1971. Olympia soared to 104, also a record, and to the south, folks in Portland sizzled as the mercury climbed to a record 106.

One other note I want to make concerns the wind damage this past week both in North Idaho near Coolin in Bonner County, and also across Stevens and Pend Oreille counties in Washington. Multiple large trees were downed as well as power lines. Photos of the damage may cause people to automatically assume a “tornado” was responsible (especially if one was present in the midst of the roaring winds).

First of all, tornadoes are quite rare in this region, with Idaho and Washington each averaging one to two occurrences per year.

Secondly, there are several scenarios in which straight-line winds can reach damaging proportions. Outflow winds (which occur ahead of an approaching storm) were responsible for the record 77 mph wind gust measured at the Spokane airport a few years ago. Microbursts or downbursts in a thunderstorm can result in winds as high as 149 mph. Some large but shallow-rooted trees can be brought down with winds as little as 45 mph. No tornadoes were confirmed in any of the recent storms.