Washington will see warmer than normal spring, summer

The National Weather Service says it’s looking more and more like Washington state will have a warmer than typical spring and summer season.

While we’re dealing with some near-record wet weather on this first day of spring, National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Buehner says as we head further into the warmer seasons, things will look quite different.

“Once we start into May, June, July, August, September, they have increased the odds on warmer than average temperatures for Washington.”

Rainfall in February and March has been at near-record levels. February was the third most rainy on record and March is currently at third rainiest, but may end up ranking higher on the charts.

“The record for the month of March was set in 1950 with 8.4 inches,” says Buehner. “We’re currently at 7.71. So between now and the end of the month we have a chance to possibly at least get to the number two slot, if not all the way to the wettest ever.”

So while the showers now might not impress your out-of-town visitors, Buehner says the period coming up this spring and summer might be a good chance to send out some invites.

“Does it mean we’re not going to have any rain? No,” Buehner says. “But there might be some pretty good weekends as we go into this spring and this summer.”

The only downside of all this warm weather, Buehner says, is a greater potential fire risk in eastern Washington.

“I’m concerned about the potential for wildfires east of the Cascades as we get deeper into the summer,” says Buehner. “I think we’re going to be OK on moisture here west of the Cascades. I’m worried about east of the Cascades. There it’s not quite as rosy a picture.”