The winter of 2014-15 was one for the record books
Talk about WIDE WEATHER 'EXTREMES,' we certainly have seen them during this year of 2015, both in the U.S. and around the world. It was indeed a "winter to remember!"
For example, on Monday, March 16, McCook, Neb., soared to an all-time record high of 93 degrees, the warmest ever for so early in the season. Norfolk, Neb., observed its all-time record for any winter month of 92 degrees. Goodland, Kan., reported 89 degrees, likewise a new record high for late winter. In California, San Diego topped out at 91 degrees on March 16, also a record maximum reading. Remember, on Tuesday, March 10, we saw our only 70-degree plus reading locally in Coeur d'Alene ever observed prior to March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Previously, the record was 70 on that date in 1970.
The record warm and dry conditions during the period from mid February through mid March resulted in the highest number of late winter brush fires ever observed across the parched Inland Northwest. Then, as has been typical during this prolonged cycle of wide weather 'extremes,' both Spokane and Coeur d'Alene measured all-time record mid March rains approaching 2 inches in places. The drought was literally "busted overnight" in the region!
But, there has been no drought relief in California. According to our own Meteorologist Randy Mann:
"Much of the West has been experiencing record warmth within the past week. Temperatures in the Los Angeles area were in the low 90s on Sunday. The Los Angeles airport went to 88 degrees on March 15, a new record for the date. Moisture totals in California are below normal again. Only 6.71 inches of rain has fallen for the season at the LA Airport, compared to a normal of about 11 inches. This is not good news as severe drought continues to grip much of the Golden State.
The latest Drought Index continues to show severe to extreme drought across much of California, down into the Southwest and eastward into the central and southern Great Plains. Our latest long-range forecasts show this western ridge to be expanding to the east and over the central U.S. later in the spring. We're already reporting drier conditions across the northern and central Great Plains.
By extreme contrast, record snows were reported in the Northeast. Boston finally broke its all-time snowfall total with 108.6 inches, smashing the old mark of 107.9 inches set back in 1995-96. And, it's not just Boston getting all the snow. An Italian weather website states that Capracotta, Italy, picked up an amazing 100.8 inches of snow in just 18 hours on March 5. This total has yet to be verified, but regardless, that's a lot of snow, and it would break the world record for snowfall in a 24-hour period."
By the way, one weather station in northeastern Afghanistan has received nearly 20 feet of snow this winter of 2014-15, likewise an all-time record.
NORTH IDAHO WEATHER REVIEW AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOKS
While winter refuses to give up in the chilly northeastern corner of the U.S., our earliest spring season on record will soon be producing those predicted thunderstorms throughout the Inland Northwest, including North Idaho.
As of this writing on Friday morning, March 20, a series of Pacific storm systems was poised to strike our part of the country during the next week to 10 days. After being rainless, and snowless, for more than a month through March 13 with a "burning ban" in the region, we've seen more than 2 inches of rain in the past week in Coeur d'Alene with higher totals in some surrounding areas.
Longer-term, the spring of 2015 in the Inland Pacific Northwest should see normal to above normal moisture and slightly above normal temperatures through at least mid June, maybe into late June.
The summer of 2015 still looks warm and quite dry, but not unusually hot. I'll have a six-month detailed spring and summer outlook next week in 'Gems.'
Happy 54th Anniversary Sharon! And Happy 24th Anniversary to Randy Mann and his wife, Sally.
Weekly Weather Almanac
• Week's warmest temperature: 62 degrees on March 20
• Week's coldest temperature: 31 degrees on March 22
• Week's precipitation: 0.56 inches
• Precipitation month to date: 2.29 inches
• Normal precipitation month to date: 1.38 inches
• Precipitation month to date last year: 4.09 inches
• Precipitation year to date: 8.25 inches
• Normal precipitation year to date: 7.32 inches
• Precipitation last year to date: 10.69 inches
• Normal annual precipitation: 26.77 inches
• Total precipitation last year: 33.67 inches
• Precipitation predicted this year: 30.28 inches
• Record annual precipitation: 43.27 inches in 2012
• All-time least annual precipitation: 15.18 inches in 1929
• Week's snowfall: 0.0 inches
• Snowfall, month to date: trace
• Normal snowfall, month to date: 4.6 inches
• Snowfall, month to date last year: 8.5 inches
• Snowfall, 2014-15 season to date: 32.5 inches
• Normal snowfall, season to date: 67.4 inches
• Snowfall to date in 2013-14 season: 66.7 inches
• Normal snowfall, entire season: 69.8 inches
• Predicted 2014-15 seasonal snowfall: 53.8 inches
• Total seasonal snowfall last year: 67.2 inches
• All-time record Cd'A snowfall: 172.9 inches in 2007-08
• Least ever seasonal snowfall: 11.2 inches in 1933-34
• Snowiest month ever in Cd'A since 1895: 87.4 inches in December 2008
Readings taken week ending Sunday, 3 p.m., March 22