We're already in Top 10 for summer scorchers

We’re still in the middle of a long heatwave across the Inland Northwest. Last week, there were five days in a row with high temperatures above the 100-degree mark in Coeur d’Alene, a record at this time of year.

The hottest afternoon was last Tuesday with a high temperature of 107 degrees at Cliff’s station in northwestern Coeur d’Alene.

However, on that date, Spokane International Airport had its hottest day ever recorded with a blistering high of 109 degrees. That beat the old record of 108 degrees set back on Aug. 4, 1961, the same day Coeur d’Alene hit its all-time record high of 109 degrees.

The Coeur d’Alene Airport in Hayden also topped out at 109 degrees last Tuesday, which tied its all-time record for the highest temperature. It was even hotter at North Idaho College as the thermometer hit 110 degrees on June 29.

Kellogg, Worley and Rathdrum each reported 108 degrees on that torrid Tuesday. Hayden and Athol hit 107 while Post Falls went to 106 degrees.

June’s average high temperature was 81.1 degrees, which was over 8 degrees above normal. There were also 10 days with highs at or above 90 degrees. Only .49 inches of rain fell, compared to the normal of 1.93 inches.

High temperatures in Coeur d’Alene have been at or above the 90-degree mark since June 24. The super-strong ridge of high pressure that has brought us the very dry and hot weather will continue to be locked in over the western states through at least the middle of July. Therefore, it also looks like we’re going to see many more days this month with highs at least in the 90s, with a good chance of more 100-degree days. There may be several days this month with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon, otherwise July is expected to be drier than normal once again.

Cliff and I believe that the drought pattern will continue into the middle of August. Then, we should start to see some changes in the upper-level wind patterns that would turn conditions toward the cooler and wetter side. As usual, time will tell.

Back in June 2005, Cliff listed the top 10 summer seasons that experienced the most 100-degree days during the June 21 through Sept. 22 timeframe. It’s almost hard to believe, but since June 21 of this year, we’ve already made the top 10 and we still have about two-and-a-half months left of summer. Here is his updated list.

No. 1: 1967. This egg-frying summer had an incredible 16 afternoons above the century mark. There were likewise another 29 days with readings at 90 degrees or above. The average daily maximum temperature was 91 degrees, a full nine degrees above the normal (mean) maximum of 82 degrees. September’s warmest day ever in Coeur d’Alene of 102 degrees occurred on Sept. 1, 1967.

No. 2: 1961. The red-hot summer of 1961 was the only other summer season, besides 1967, with an average maximum reading above 90 degrees at 90.6 degrees. There were 15 afternoons of temperatures at or above 100 degrees, second only to 1967. The hottest temperature ever observed was a torrid 109 degrees set on Aug. 4, 1961. There were an additional 28 afternoons above 90 degrees during the June 21 to Sept. 22 period.

No. 3: 1939. The sweltering summer of 1939 had an even dozen afternoons with triple-digit temperatures, including July’s hottest day ever of 108 degrees on the 28th. There were another 25 afternoons in 1939 with temperatures of 90 degrees or higher.

No. 4: 1973. This asphalt-melting summer of 1973 observed 10 afternoons with sweaty readings of 100 degrees or higher. There were another 29 days with 90-degree readings.

No. 5: 1975. Nine days of triple-digit temperatures plus 26 more afternoons in the warm 90s.

No. 6: 1986. Eight days of 100 degrees or higher. There were 27 additional afternoons in the 90s.

No. 7: 1959. Seven afternoons at 100 degrees or above, plus 24 other days with readings in the 90s.

No. 8: 1983. This summer also had seven days of triple-digit temperatures, but there were fewer afternoons in the 90s at 22.

No. 9: 2015. This hot summer season had six days with highs at or above 100 degrees. The hottest afternoon was on June 28 with a high of 105 degrees. There was also a record 34 afternoons with readings at or above 90 degrees. There were also 16 days in a row with highs at or above 90 degrees. Sept. 12, 2015, was the latest 90-degree temperature in history.

No. 10: 1919. Five days of 100 degrees or hotter. There were 24 afternoons in the 90s.

No. 10 (tied): 2021. During the first two weeks of summer, there have already been five days with temperatures above 100 degrees.