After cool, wet spring, hot weather on the way

Where’s summer?

We’re approaching the middle of June and it still feels like early spring across the Inland Northwest. I’ve been receiving comments and e-mails from folks wondering when we’re going to flip to the warmer and drier side of the meteorological scale. Despite this cool and showery weather pattern, I still say that a generally hot and dry summer is expected in our region.

Last month, it was certainly cooler and wetter than normal in most areas. At the Spokane International Airport, the average temperature was 51.3 degrees, which was 3.1 degrees below normal. Exactly 2.15 inches of precipitation recorded, which was .55 inches above normal. On May 27, record rain fell at the airport as .96 inches was measured.

June is also starting off wet and cool. The average temperature through the first week of this month is more than 3 degrees below normal. We’ve received approximately 1.2 inches of rain, which is about 0.8 inches above average levels. But, for the year, the airport has measured 8.56 inches as of early Tuesday, which is 0.48 inches above normal. Despite the wet spring, the winter was much drier than average.

It does appear the weather pattern will be changing to the drier and warmer side next week. However, there will be occasional showers, but the rain not as widespread as what we’ve been seeing.

I still believe that in the period from late June through early September, we may see about 25 days at or above 90 degrees. Some of the outlying areas could be as high as 30 days at or above 90 degrees.

During the normal summer, the Spokane International Airport normally has 19 days with temperatures at or above 90. There is an average of two days in June, nine days in July, seven days in August and one day in September at or above 90. The earliest Spokane has reached 90 degrees was on April 24, 1977. The latest we’ve had a 90 degree day was on Sept. 25, 1952, when it hit 93 degrees.

The hottest weather of the upcoming summer, which starts on June 21 at 4:28 a.m., is expected to be the full moon lunar cycle from Aug.10-16. Temperatures may actually top 100 at the airport and surrounding areas.