Seattle is slated for one of driest Marches in 75 years
Mar 26, 2019, 12:10 PM
It’s been an odd year for Northwest weather, punctuated by the snowiest February the region has ever seen, followed by record-setting warm weather mere weeks later.
As March winds to a close, the cherry on top is that Seattle is already slated for one of the driest Marches in the last 75 years.
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According to the National Weather Service, Seattle recorded 1.33 inches of rainfall through March 25. If it doesn’t rain again, that would make it the second driest March since records were first kept 75 years ago.
With 0.16" today March rainfall for Seattle is 1.33". Good chance March will end up in the top 5 driest in the 75 yrs of records at Sea-Tac airport.
Top 5 driest plus 2019.
1. 0.57" (1965)
2. 1.33" (2019)
3. 1.55" (1979)
4. 1.62" (1973)
5. 1.68" (1992)
6. 2.06" (1996) #wawx— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) March 26, 2019
For reference, Seattle averages 3.72 inches of rain in March. The area saw 2.44 inches in March 2018, and a whopping 7.32 inches in March 2017. Given that monthly averages decline in every month until September, it appears as though the region is in for an historically dry spring.
That feeds into fears that wildfires will be especially rough this year, evidenced by the 25 brush fires crews responded to over a three-day period of 70-plus degree weather in early March.
Forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agree, calling for dry, hot weather in the coming months. The NOAA’s forecast also predicts less precipitation than in past seasons, with a 40-50 percent chance of getting a “drier than normal” season.
The chance of a “warmer than normal” spring sits between 50 and 60 percent.
