Others would like our warm winter
As we close out the month of January, it looks like the month will definitely go down in the record books as a warm one. Temperatures over the last 30 days averaged nearly 8 degrees above normal. Final snowfall totals are not yet available as I write this, but below-normal snowfall looks like a pretty obviously bet, as well.
Once again, folks east of the Rockies are not having such a quiet winter. Heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain affected locations from New Mexico all the way east into North Carolina this past week. Many locations saw a combination of the wintry precipitation, making travel hazardous. Across the Northern Plains, it wasn’t so much the snow, but the bitter cold air, which in combination with brisk winds sent wind-chills as cold as 25 below zero.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recently released some interesting statistics about the winter season so far. Owing to the barrage of winter storms that affected much of the U.S. just last month, NOAA satellites observed the largest average snow coverage for the contiguous U.S. – more than 4.1 million square kilometers – than any other December since records began in 1966. Despite the effects of El Niño, the average temperature across the U.S. in December was below normal. It was likewise here across the Inland Northwest thanks to a prolonged arctic air mass invasion. With regards to overall precipitation, it was the 11th wettest December on record for the U.S. This had some positive effects, as by the end of December, moderate to exceptional drought conditions covered only 12.4 percent of the contiguous U.S., with significant improvement in places like California and South Texas.
Looking ahead to February, though, warm and dry weather might be well appreciated here in the valleys, we need to keep the snow falling in the mountains. This is not just for the sake of winter recreation. Building a good snowpack ensures an adequate water supply during the summer’s long hot and dry spells. If mountain precipitation is lacking from late winter into early spring, or even if there is significant early melting, there will be dire consequences for the upcoming fire season. Average snowfall in February for Spokane is 8 inches; 11.5 inches for Coeur d’Alene. Average highs range from the mid-30s to the lower 40s through the month of February, with overnight lows going from the lower to the upper 20s. Of course that is more like what we have been seeing for January – so expect more above-normal temperatures which “feel” like March, next month.